Moseley's Law

f = a (Z - b)

Relates characteristic X-ray frequencies to atomic number. The screening constant b accounts for shielding by inner electrons (b ≈ 1 for Kα lines, b ≈ 7.4 for Lα lines).

Variables

Characteristic X-ray frequency

Proportionality constant

Hz^(1/2)

Atomic number

unitless

Screening constant

unitless

Derivation

Moseley discovered this empirically, which helped establish atomic number as fundamental to element identity.

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