Question

How Moseley determined the atomic number of an element using X-rays?

Answer 1

• Henry Moseley studied the X-ray spectra of several elements and determined their atomic numbers (Z). 
• He discovered a correlation between atomic number and the frequency of X-rays generated by bombarding an clement with high energy of electrons.
• Moseley correlated the frequency of the X-ray emitted by an equation as, 

√v = a (Z – b) 

Where υ = Frequency of the X-rays emitted by the elements. 

a and b = Constants. 

• From the square root of the measured frequency of the X-rays emitted, he determined the atomic number of the element.