X-ray Spectrometry

The characteristics lines in X-ray spectra result from electronic transitions between inner atomic orbitals. The X-ray spectra for most heavy elements are much simpler than the UV/Vis spectra observed in ICP-OES, for example. (Only a few lines!!!) Big difference between X-ray and UVVis: The radiation is ionizing, and doesn’t just excite electrons to higher levels. Moseley’s law: Predicts the basic relationship of atom number and the frequency of the characteristic lines