👤 whose

Whose work first showed that elements are better ordered by atomic number than by atomic weight?

Quick Answer

Henry Moseley’s. In 1913, he showed that the true order of the elements is based on atomic number, not atomic weight.

The Full Story

Henry Moseley used X-ray spectra to study the elements in 1913. He found a clear mathematical relationship between X-ray frequencies and atomic number, showing that each element has a unique nuclear charge. This explained anomalies in the older atomic-weight-based arrangements of the periodic table. Moseley’s work gave the modern periodic table its correct basis. It also helped identify gaps where missing elements should exist.

Key Facts

1.1913: Moseley linked X-ray spectra to atomic number
2.Atomic number equals the number of protons
3.His results corrected several misordered elements

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Suggested video title for this topic:

"The discovery that fixed the periodic table"

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