Question

Why first shell Is called K shell?

Answer 1

K-shell:

1. The innermost shell of electrons that surrounds an atomic nucleus and constitutes the lowest available energy level of the electrons is called as K-shell.
2. K denotes the first shell or the energy level.

The first shell Is called K shell because:

1. The electron shells were named by Spectroscopist Charles G Barkla.
2. He named the innermost shell as K shell as he noticed that the X-rays emit two types of energies.
3. He further named those two energies as type A, higher energy and type B, lower energy X-ray.
4. Later, he named those energies with different alphabets.
5. He a named the K type -rays emitting highest energy and hence, he gave the name to the innermost shell as K shell.