A K shell electron is ejected from a tungsten atom

In summary, a K shell electron is an electron found in the innermost energy level of an atom, and it can be ejected through processes like photon absorption and electron impact. After ejection, the tungsten atom becomes positively charged and can interact with other atoms. The significance of this process includes its use in X-ray imaging and providing insight into electronic structure. A K shell electron can also be reabsorbed by a tungsten atom through electron capture or recombination.
  • #1
tlrmaus
8
0

Homework Statement


A K shell electron is ejected from a tungsten atom. The result of this is the emission of a characteristic x-ray proton. (The binding energy of the K shell in tungsten is 69.5keV. The binding energy of the L shell in a tungsten atoms is 10.5 keV).
a) If the vacancy in the K shell is filled by an electron from the L shell, what will the energy of the characteristic x-ray be?
b)If the K shell vacancy was filled by an electron from the M shell, would the enregy by higher or lower than the enregy from part a?
c)Why is this type of radiation called characteristic radiation?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I got part a and b but can't get part c.
 
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  • #2
Q: "Homework Statement A K shell electron is ejected from a tungsten atom. The result of this is the emission of a characteristic x-ray proton. (The binding energy of the K shell in tungsten is 69.5keV. The binding energy of the L shell in a tungsten atoms is 10.5 keV)."

A:
1) "characteristic x-ray proton" should say X-Ray PHOTON. In other words and X-Ray photon.
Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/a-k-shell-electron-is-ejected-from-a-tungsten-atom.482822/

Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/a-k-shell-electron-is-ejected-from-a-tungsten-atom.482822/
 
  • #4
2) "(The binding energy of the K shell in tungsten is 69.5keV. The binding energy of the L shell in a tungsten atoms is 10.5 keV)."

This statement should say: element W K-shell binding energy is 69.5250keV.
Element W L-shell has 3 subshells, their binding energies are: L1is12.100keV, L2 is 11.544keV, L3 is 10.207V.

3) "If the vacancy in the K shell is filled by an electron from the L shell, what will the energy of the characteristic x-ray be?"

A: Their emission energy is simply the subtraction of the difference between the vacant K-shall binding energy and the donor electron's kinetic energy, therefore:

Ka1 Characteristic XRF X-Ray: (K) 69.5250keV - (L3) 10.207keV = 59.318keV

So, the unique X-Ray photons released by a K-Shell electron leaving its shell, creating a vacancy there, which is then filled by a donor electron in the element W, and only the element W is 59.318keV.

Being unique to this atom alone, it is a "characteristic" of all isotopes of the tungsten atom.

George Dowell

​
K 1s​
L12s​
L22p1/2​
L32p3/2​
M13s​
M23p1/2​
M33p3/2​
M43d3/2​
M53d5/2​
69,525.​
12,100.​
11,544.​
10,207.​
2,820.​
2,575.​
2,281.​
1,872.​
1,809.​

​
​
 
Last edited:
  • #5
This homework problem is from 11 years ago. There is now enough information in the thread to help someone with a similar problem. Time to close.
 

1. What is a K shell electron?

A K shell electron is an electron that is located in the innermost electron shell, or energy level, of an atom. It has the lowest energy and is closest to the nucleus.

2. How is a K shell electron ejected from a tungsten atom?

A K shell electron can be ejected from a tungsten atom through various processes, such as photon absorption, electron impact, or Auger electron emission. These processes provide enough energy to overcome the binding energy of the electron and remove it from the atom.

3. What happens to the tungsten atom after a K shell electron is ejected?

After a K shell electron is ejected from a tungsten atom, the atom becomes positively charged as it now has one less electron to balance out the positive charge of the nucleus. This can lead to chemical reactions and interactions with other atoms.

4. What is the significance of a K shell electron being ejected from a tungsten atom?

The ejection of a K shell electron from a tungsten atom can have significant implications in various fields, such as in X-ray imaging and radiation therapy. This process can also provide valuable information about the electronic structure of atoms and the behavior of electrons.

5. Can a K shell electron be reabsorbed by a tungsten atom?

Yes, a K shell electron can be reabsorbed by a tungsten atom if it comes into contact with an electron with enough energy to fill the vacant energy level. This process is known as electron capture or recombination and can occur in certain circumstances, such as in the presence of a strong electric field.

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