In Moseley's law, z represents the atomic number of an element.
Moseley's law establishes a relationship between the frequency (ν) of the characteristic X-rays emitted by an element and its atomic number (Z). Essentially, the law states that the square root of the frequency of the emitted X-ray is proportional to the atomic number.
The mathematical representation of Moseley's law is:
√ν = a(Z - b)
Where:
- ν = frequency of the emitted X-ray
- Z = atomic number of the element
- a and b are constants
Therefore, z directly corresponds to the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of the element in question. This law was pivotal in establishing the concept of atomic number as a fundamental property of elements, correcting inconsistencies in the periodic table based on atomic weight. It also helped to predict the existence of new elements.
