LESSON 3:

Henry Moseley,
The atomic number, and Synthesis
of Elements
 LEARNING GOALS:
▪Explain how Moseley discovered the
correlation between the atomic number of an
element and the wavelengths of x-rays
emitted by the element;

▪Discuss how new elements are synthesized.

What determines the order of
the elements in the Periodic
Table?
BACKGROUND
▪Some people suggested that atomic weights
should increase in proportion by approximately
two units for each successive element.

✓Other chemists disagreed with this RULE.

▪Atomic masses did not seem to follow a very

regular pattern and in any case, some
elements were in the wrong order.
Ernest Rutherford
- one of the first to explain the structure of atoms.
- Pioneer of radioactivity and atoms.
- Has researched that first split an atom in 1917.

Rutherfordium is created by
nuclear bombardment – smashing
tiny bits of atoms into other atoms.
In 1913, Moseley used
Rutherford’s work to advance the
understanding of the elements
and solve the problem with
Mendeleev’s periodic table.

He noticed that shooting

electrons at elements caused
them to release x-rays at unique
frequencies.
▪ The invention of the device called
cyclotron paved the way for
transmuting one element into
another artificially.

A type of compact
particle accelerator
which produces
radioactive isotopes that
can be used for imaging
procedures.

The high-energy particles that are produced

from the cyclotron upon hitting heavy target
nuclei produce heavier nuclei.
▪ Moseley’s method of identifying
elements by shooting electrons and
looking at x-rays became a very
useful tool in characterizing
elements, and is now called x-ray
spectroscopy.

▪ X-ray spectroscopy is a technique

that detects and measures
photons, that have wavelengths in
the X-ray portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
Synthesis of Elements
the artificial creation of an element, as they
can not be found in nature

Synthetic elements are produced in nuclear

reactors, particle accelerators or atomic bombs.
❖ All of the synthetic elements are radioactive and
unstable. They do not exist for long because
of radioactive decay.
▪ The bombarding of Molybdenum (Mo) with
deuteron formed technetium.

“technetos” the first artificially

made element
The nuclear reactions involved in
the synthesis of new elements are:

Nuclear fusion Nuclear fission

- two different nuclei joined - splitting of the nucleus into

together into one forming a two lighter nuclei
heavier nucleus
Transuranic elements
▪synthetic elements with atomic numbers higher than
that of Uranium (Z = 92).
Neptunium (Z = 93)
▪ the first transuranium element produced synthetically
The Transuranic
▪ synthesized by E.M.Elements
MacMillan and Abelson in 1940 named
after the planet Neptune
The Super heavy Elements
▪elements with atomic numbers beyond 103.
▪These are produced by bombarding heavy nuclear
targets with accelerated heavy projectiles.
The Superheavy Elements
When referring to a single type of nucleus, we often use
the term nuclide and identify it by the notation:
A
ZX
For example:
where:
X = symbol for the 14
element, 6C is called “carbon-14.”
A = mass number
Z = atomic number
 Table 1.1: Nuclear Decay Emissions and Their
Symbols

Identity Symbol Charge Mass (Amu)

Helium nucleus 4 +2 4.001506
2 α
Electron 0 -1 0.000549
−1 β or β−
Photon 0 γ
0
------- ------
Neutron 1 n 0 1.008665
0
1
Proton 1p +1 1.007276
Positron 0 β or β+ +1 0.000549
+ 1

For a proton or a neutron, A = 1.

Because neither an electron nor a positron contains protons or

neutrons, its mass number (A) is 0.
 Write a balanced nuclear equation to describe
each reaction.

1. the beta decay of 35 S

16 Solution:
Given:
▪ radioactive nuclide 35 A
S → ZX + 0
-1β
▪ mode of decay 16

Strategies:
-1β
35 35 0
▪ Identify the reactants and the 16 S → 17
Cl +
products from the information
given. 35 - 0 = 35
▪ Use the values of A and Z to Unknown: 16 – (-1) = 17
identify any missing components X = element
needed to balance the equation. A = atomic mass of the element
Z= atomic number of the element
2. the decay of 30
15P by positron emission

Solution:
Unknown:
X = element
30 A A = atomic mass of the element
15 P → ZX + 0
+1 β Z= atomic number of the element

+1β
30 30 0
15 P → 14
Si +

30 - 0 = 30
15 – (+1) = 14
3. the decay of 20180Hg by electron capture

Solution:
Unknown:
X = element
201 A A = atomic mass of the element
Hg + 0
80 -1e → ZX Z= atomic number of the element

201 201
0 Au
80 Hg + -1e 79

201 + 0 = 201
80 + (-1) = 79
4. the decay of 201
80Hg by neutron capture

Unknown:
201 A X = element
Hg + 1
80 0n →ZX A = atomic mass of the
element
Z= atomic number of the
202 element
201
80 Hg + 1
0n → 80 Hg
SW:
INSTRUCTION: Write a balanced nuclear equation
to describe each reaction.

1. the beta decay of 127 Te

52
127 127
+ 0 β
52 Te 53 I -1

2. the decay of 112

48Cd by positron emission
112 112
Cd +1 β
0
48 47 Ag +

3. the decay of 127

53I by electron capture
127 127
+ 0
53 I -1 e 52 Te
PROBLEM SOLVING:
GEN. INSTRUCTION: Write the nuclear reactions
involved in the synthesis of each of the following new
elements:

1. Curium (Z = 96) was formed by reacting Pu-239 with alpha

particles - He. It has a half-life of 162 days.

242
239 4 Cm + 10n
94Pu + 2He
---> 96

239 + 4 = 243 - 1 = 242

94 + 2 = 96 - 0 = 96
Atomic mass.
Atomic no. of Cm of Cm

Cm is named after Marie and Pierre Curie who had done extensive
research on natural radioactivity.
2. Mendelevium (Z = 101) was formed by reacting
Es-253 with alpha particles.
256
253 Es + 4 He ---> Md + 1 0n
99 2 101

Mendelevium (Md) is named after Dmitri Mendeleev

3. Meitnerium Z = 109) was formed by cold fusion which

involves the combination of Bismuth (Bi) and Iron (Fe)
nuclides at ordinary temperature
264
209 Bi + 56 Fe ---> Mt + 10n
83 26 109
REFERENCES:
▪ https://freedomtoteach.collins
.co.uk/chemistry-in-1913- ▪ https://brainly.ph/question/2
part-1-henry-moseley-and- 014342
atomic-number/
▪ https://chem.libretexts.org/Co ▪ https://www.sciencelearn.or
urses/Grand_Rapids_Comm g.nz/resources/2775-
unity_College/CHM_120_- rutherfordium
_Survey_of_General_Chemi
stry/2%3A_Atomic_Structure
/2.04%3A_Types_of_Radioa
ctivity