Chapter Four
Atomic Structure
Contents
Introduction
Atomic spectra
The Bohr atomic model
Energy levels and spectra
Atomic excitation
The laser
Specific objectives
At the end of this session you are able to
Define atom and its structure
Differentiate Rutherford, Bohr and Quantum atomic
model.
Introduction
An atom is not the smallest particle of matter, but it is
the smallest type of unique matter.
Every atom consists of a small nucleus of protons and
neutrons with a number of electrons some distance away.
i.e. All atoms are made up of subatomic particles which
are identical in all atoms.
The number of protons in an atom determines the
identity and to a large extent the chemical properties of
an atom and it is known as the Atomic number.
Cont.
Cont.
Protons and neutrons vibrate, but are basically
motionless.
Electrons are located relatively far from the
nucleus in energy levels where they move randomly
at very high speeds creating shells. Then the
electrons form an electron cloud.
Electron Orbits
Rutherford's model of an atom, so convincingly confirmed
by an experiment, pictures as a tiny, massive, positively
charged nucleus surrounded at a relatively great distance by
enough electrons to render the atom electrically neutral as a
whole.
The electrons can’t be stationary in this model, because
there is nothing that can keep them in place against the
electric force pulling them to the nucleus.
If the electrons are in motion, however, dynamically stable
orbits like those of the planets around the sun are possible.
Cont.’
Figure 2. Force balance in hydrogen atom
Centripetal force is given by
mv2
F=
𝑟
And the force holding the electron in an orbit r from the
nucleus
is provided by the electric force
e2
Fe = k 2
r
1
Where k =
4πℇo
Cont.
Substituting the value of V, the total energy of electron is given by:
e2
En= −
8πℇor
Cont.
The total energy of the electron is negative, which indicates
the fact that it’s bound to the nucleus.
If E were greater than zero, an electron would not follow a
closed orbit around the nucleus.
This energy E is not a property of electron alone but is a
property of the system (electron + nucleus).
Experiments found that 13.6 electron volt of energy is
required to separate hydrogen atom in electron and proton.
Exercise 1: Compute the orbital radius and the velocity of the
electron in a hydrogen atom?
The Bohr Model
The electron in a hydrogen atom travels around the nucleus
in a circular orbit.
The energy of the electron in an orbit is proportional to its
distance from the nucleus. The further the electron is from
the nucleus, the more energy it has.
Only a limited number of orbits with certain energies are
allowed. In other words the orbits are quantized.
By examining the wave behavior of an electron in orbit
around a hydrogen nucleus, since the electron velocity are
much smaller than c, we will assume that γ=1, then
h
λ=
mv
Cont.
Then, the orbital electron wave length become
h 4𝜋ε𝑜𝑟
λ=
e 𝑚
Exercise 2: calculate the orbital electron wavelength of
hydrogen atom, when orbital radius of the atom is obtained
in exercise 1??
𝟐𝝅𝐫 = 𝟑𝟑 ∗ 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟏 𝐦
Cont.
To see the condition that an electron orbit contain an integral
number of de Broglie wavelength. The circumference of a
circular orbit of radius r is 𝟐𝝅𝐫, and so the condition for
orbit stability is
𝐧𝛌 = 𝟐𝛑𝐫𝐧, where n=1,2,…
Where 𝐫𝐧 implies the radius of the orbit that contain n
wavelengths. The integer n is called the quantum number of
the orbit.
Substituting for λ, orbital radii in Bohr atom is given by:
𝐧𝟐 𝐡𝟐 εo
rn =
𝛑𝐦𝐞𝟐
Cont.
An electron can circle a nucleus only if its orbit
contains an integral number of de Broglie wavelength.
𝐧λ = 𝟐𝝅𝐫𝐧, where n=1,2,…
Cont.
r1= a0 = Bohr radius of hydrogen atom
=5.292 ∗ 10−11 m
Generally, rn= 𝐧𝟐 a0 , n=?(quantum no of H atom)
The energy of any orbit is
R
E H
n 2
n
R H 13.6 eV
Cont.
The radius of the innermost orbit is called the Bohr radius of
the hydrogen atom and is denoted by a0
r1= a0 = Bohr radius of hydrogen atom
= 5.292 ∗ 10−11 m
Postulates of Bohr atomic model
Only orbits of certain radii are allowed. These radii
corresponds to specific energies. i.e. Electrons moves
in circular orbits around the nucleus
An electron in a permitted orbit has this specific
energy, an “allowed” energy state. Electrons will not
radiate energy, into a state that is not allowed, so will
not spiral into the nucleus. Energy of electron is
quantized.
Energy is only emitted or absorbed by an electron as it
moves from one allowed state to another. This energy
is emitted or absorbed as a photon, E=hf.
Exercise: Group task
1. State the deficiencies of the Bohr atomic model??
2. Compare Bohr atomic model with Quantum theory?
3. Discuss difficulties of Rutherford's atomic model?
Energy Levels: Energy is emitted when an electron jumps
form one energy level to a lower level.
The lowest energy state is called The energy level diagram
the ground state.
This corresponds to n = 1
and energy E1 = –13.6 eV
E1 = –13.6 eV?? How??
The next energy level:
n = 2 has energy E2 = –3.40 eV
ground state
Cont.
The ionization energy is the energy needed to completely remove
the electron from the atom.
The ionization energy for hydrogen is 13.6 eV
The uppermost level corresponds to E = 0 and n
The value of RH from Bohr’s analysis is in excellent agreement
with experiment
1 1 1
RH 2 2
n n
f i
Energy depends only on the principal quantum number, n
RH
En 2
n
Cont.
• Reading Assignment
1. Zeeman effect
2. Laser light
Thanks !
