Final answer:
X-rays are produced when high-speed electrons strike a target, leading to the emission of photons as kinetic energy is transformed. Characteristic X-rays have specific energies based on the element and are useful for element identification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The production of X-rays involves electrons being accelerated towards an anode and their kinetic energy being converted to various forms including thermal energy and photons of electromagnetic radiation. This occurs in a device known as a cathode ray tube (CRT). Electrons can cause inner-shell electrons in the anode's atoms to be excited to higher orbits or ionized, leading to characteristic X-rays when these electrons return to lower energy levels.
Characteristic X-rays are named (Kα, Kβ, etc.) based on the transition between electron shells, producing radiation with energies that are characteristic of the element and can be used to identify elements. The required energy to produce characteristic X-rays typically increases as the atomic number squared (Z²), necessitating significant accelerating voltages.