Moseley’s equation for X-ray frequency and atomic number is v = a(Z − b). What does Z represent in this equation?

Answer 6 states that in Moseley's equation v = a(Z − b), Z represents the atomic number, which is the number of protons in an element.

Atomic mass: Incorrect because the equation focuses on atomic number, not mass.
Proton number: Similar to atomic number but not the specific term used in the equation.
X-ray wavelength: Incorrect, as the equation relates frequency (v) to atomic number (Z), not wavelength.
Electron number: Incorrect; while the number of electrons equals the atomic number in a neutral atom, Z specifically refers to the atomic number.

So, Z is crucial for understanding the relationship between an element's properties and its position in the periodic table, while the other options refer to different concepts.