answersLogoWhite

0

The names of the electron shells come from a fellow named Charles G. Barkla, a spectroscopist who studied the X-rays that are emitted by atoms when they are hit with high energy electrons. He noticed that atoms appeared to emit two types of X-rays. The two types of X-rays differed in energy and Barkla originally called the higher energy X-ray type A and the lower energy X-ray type B. He later renamed these two types K and L since he realized that the highest energy X-rays produced in his experiments might not be the highest energy X-ray possible. He wanted to make certain that there was room to add more discoveries without ending up with an alphabetical list of X-rays whose energies were mixed up.

As it turns out, the K type X-ray is the highest energy X-ray an atom can emit. It is produced when an electron in the innermost shell is knocked free and then recaptured. This innermost shell is now called the K-shell, after the label used for the X-ray. Barkla won the 1917 Nobel Prize for Physics for this work.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What is the namesake for bohrium?

Bohrium is named after Danish physicist Niels Bohr. He made significant contributions to our understanding of atomic structure and quantum theory.


Who the bohr model is named after?

The Bohr model is named after Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who proposed the model in 1913 to describe the structure of atoms. Bohr's model introduced the idea of quantized energy levels for electrons in an atom, revolutionizing our understanding of atomic structure.


What are 10 elements named after people?

Curium (Cm) - named after Marie and Pierre Curie. Einsteinium (Es) - named after Albert Einstein. Fermium (Fm) - named after Enrico Fermi. Mendeleevium (Md) - named after Dmitri Mendeleev. Mendelevium (Md) - named after Dmitri Mendeleev. Roentgenium (Rg) - named after Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. Seaborgium (Sg) - named after Glenn T. Seaborg. Copernicium (Cn) - named after Nicolaus Copernicus. Hassium (Hs) - named after Hesse, the Latin name for the German state where the element was discovered. Meitnerium (Mt) - named after Lise Meitner.


What is the atomic number of the element named for the scientist who first organized the periodic table?

That would be Mendelevium, of atomic number 101. Named after Dmitri Mendeleev.


How did bohrium change Niels Bohr?

Bohrium, a synthetic element with the atomic number 107, was named in honor of Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist known for his contributions to understanding atomic structure. The naming of bohrium serves as a tribute to Bohr's groundbreaking work on the structure of the atom and his significant impact on the field of physics.


What are the names of the atomic bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II?

The atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima was named "Little Boy." The atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki was named "Fat Man."


What element is named for CA?

Californium, Symbol: Cf, Atomic Number: 98, Atomic Weight: 251


What are the two elements of the periodic table named after continents?

The two elements named after continents are europium (named after Europe) and americium (named after America).


What are tricyclic antidepressants named for?

Named for their three-ring chemical structure


What are the two elements named after a women?

Curium, atomic number 96, named after Marie Curie. Meitnerium, atomic number 109, named after Lise Meitner. Niobium, atomic number 41, was named for the Greek goddess, Niobe.


What item of clothing is named after an atomic bomb explosion?

Its not named after an atomic bomb explosion, its named after an atoll in the Marshall Islands in the pacific ocean where the US did several nuclear tests.The bikini.However its probably more likely it was named after the atoll when americans saw women in newsreels of the islanders wearing a similar garment, and has no direct connection to the atomic bomb testing.


Baba atomic research centre is named after whom?

AEET