How were atomic numbers exactly determined?

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The discussion centers on the empirical determination of atomic numbers and the role of Moseley's law in this process. Participants express a lack of educational resources on how atomic numbers were established, leading to inquiries about the specifics of Moseley's contributions. Moseley's 1913 paper is highlighted as a crucial reference for understanding how atomic numbers correlate with the number of protons in an atom. The conversation emphasizes the importance of primary sources, such as Moseley's original work, for a deeper understanding of the topic, while also acknowledging the usefulness of Wikipedia for introductory information.
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Pardon my ignorance please, but they never taught us about that in school. I've never seen any mention in any of the chemistry/physics/electronics textbooks that I've ever read about how the atomic numbers of each element were empirically found in the first place. I understand it has something to do with Moseley's law, but how exactly does that help determine the number of protons an atom contains?
 
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Oh wow. Thank you so much, JohnRC! And you too Greg Bernhardt. I had already read the wiki article on it, but I wanted a little more detailed account (However, I just found that Moseley's paper is cited in the wiki page. I feel bad for that).

Thanks, again guys! :)
 
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