Chapter 40: Problem 41
The binding energies of \(K\) -shell and \(L\) -shell electrons in copper are 8.979 and \(0.951 \mathrm{keV},\) respectively. If a \(K_{a}\) x ray from copper is incident on a sodium chloride crystal and gives a firstorder Bragg reflection at an angle of \(74.1^{\circ}\) measured relative to parallel planes of sodium atoms, what is the spacing between these parallel planes?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Understand K-alpha X-ray
Calculate Energy of K-alpha X-ray
Convert Energy to Wavelength
Apply Bragg's Law
Calculate the Plane Spacing
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
K-shell and L-shell Electrons
When an L-shell electron transitions to fill a vacancy in the K-shell, it releases energy equivalent to the difference in binding energies between these two shells. This process leads to the emission of K-alpha X-rays, a crucial mechanism in identifying elemental compositions via X-ray spectroscopy.
Binding Energy
In the case of copper, the K-shell binding energy is 8.979 keV, while the L-shell is significantly lower at 0.951 keV. The difference between these energies (8.028 keV) directly influences the energy of the emitted photon during the K-alpha X-ray emission. Understanding binding energies helps in predicting and calculating the X-ray energies emitted by elements.
Energy to Wavelength Conversion
- \(E\) is the energy of the photon.
- \(h\) is Planck's constant \(4.135667696 \times 10^{-15} \text{ eV}\cdot\text{s}\).
- \(c\) is the speed of light \(3 \times 10^8 \text{ m/s}\).
- \(\lambda\) is the wavelength.
X-ray Emission
The transition of an electron from the L-shell, where it is less tightly bound, to a vacancy in the K-shell releases energy in the form of an X-ray. This specific emission is used in various analytical techniques, like X-ray fluorescence, to identify and quantify elements in a material. The precise measurement of these X-rays can reveal valuable information about the electronic structure and chemical environment of the samples.
Crystal Plane Spacing
- \(n\) is the order of reflection (usually 1),
- \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of the x-ray,
- \(d\) is the distance between crystal planes,
- \(\theta\) is the angle of incidence that satisfies the reflection condition.