Lecture 3/2021
Bohr’s theory of the atom
Bohr’s model is shown in Figure 3.1. An electron of charge –e and mass m moves
around a heavy nucleus of charge +e. ordinarily the electron would move in a straight
line, but the attraction of the nucleus bends its path so that it moves with a constant
velocity v in a perfect circle of radius r around the nucleus. The situation and the
mathematics are very similar to that of a planet arcing round the sun. The major
difference is that instead of the force of gravity there is an electrostatic force of
attraction FE between the proton and the electron described by coulomb' law:
The movement of an electron in its orbit would create a centrifugal force, which gives
it a tendency to fly away from the nucleus. This force is given by
Figure 3.1: Electron movement
An electron has two energies potential and kinetic energy.
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And
If these are added together, we obtain a simple formula for the total energy of the
electron.
In order to predict the right frequencies for the lines in the hydrogen spectrum, Bohr
found that he had to assume that the quantity (called angular momentum) , mvr, can
only take on certain values, which are whole-number multiples of h/2π;
n = 1, 2, 3, ..., r = radius of orbit
---------5
If the equation 5 substituted in ----4
In order to calculate the radius of orbit by this equation
Assumption of Bohr's theory
1. The H atom has only certain energy levels, which Bohr called stationary states.
Each state is associated with a fixed circular orbit of the electron around the nucleus.
The higher the energy level, the farther the orbit is from the nucleus.
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2. The atom does not radiate energy while in one of its stationary states. Even though
it violates principles of classical physics, the atom does not change energy while the
electron moves within an orbit.
3. The atom changes to another stationary state (the electron moves to another orbit)
only by absorbing or emitting a photon.
Ex: use the Bohr's theory to calculate the first orbit radius of hydrogen atom.
ZH= 1 , ZHe = 2, ZLi= 3
r =o.529× 10-8 cm
for another orbit you can use this equation
Ex: use the Bohr's theory to calculate the first , second and third orbit radius for
hydrogen atom.
r = 0.529×10-8 cm as mention in previous example
rn = a° × n2
r2 = 0.529×10-8 cm × (2)2 = 2.11×10-8 cm
r3 = 0.529×10-8 cm × (3)2= 4.761 ×10-8 cm
or
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Ex: the radius of innermost electron orbit of the hydrogen atom is 5.3× 10-11.what are
the radii of the n= 2 and n=3orbit?
Where
n=2
r = a°×n2
r = 5.3 × 10-11 (2)2
r = 2.12 × 10-10m
Where n= 3
r = 5.3 × 10-11 (3)2
r = 4.77× 10-10m
The velocity of electron:
a = 0.529×10-8 for hydrogen
Unit of speed = m.s-1
ex: use the Bohr's theory to calculate the velocity of electron in the first,
second and third orbit for hydrogen atom.
V= m.s-2
Note:
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J= Kg. m2.s-2
erg= g.cm2.s-2
This equation below used for other atoms like He and Li
Energy of an Electron in Hydrogen Atom
The energy of an electron moving in one particular energy level of the hydrogen atom
in the Bohr models can be calculated by the total energy or the sum of the kinetic
energy and the potential energy of an electron in physics and chemical science. Here
kinetic energy = ½ mv2 and potential energy for moving electron = e2/r. The total
energy for the nth level of the hydrogen atom in Bohr model,
where E1 = energy of the first orbit of the hydrogen atom in the
Bohr model. As the principal quantum number (n) increases the
energy becomes less negative and hence the Bohr system
becomes less stable.
So E1<E2<E3……
NOTE: The Bohr’s model of hydrogen atom applicable to the
species H, He+, Li+2 contain one electron
EX: use the Borh's theory to calculate the energy of electron in
first, second and third orbit for hydrogen atom.
Lecture 3/2021
NOTE:
Limitation of Bohr's theory
1- Bohr’s theory has successfully explained the observed spectra for hydrogen atom
and hydrogen like ions (e.g. He+, Li2+, Be3+ etc.). it cannot explain the spectral series
for the atoms having a large number of electrons.
2- According to Bohr, the radiation results when an electron jumps from one energy
orbit to another energy orbit, but how this radiation occurs is not explained by Bohr.
3- Bohr’s theory has no explanation for Zeeman Effect.
Zeeman Effect: If a substance which gives a line emission spectrum is placed in a
magnetic field, the lines of the spectrum get split up into a number of closely spaced
lines.
3- The main objection to Borh's model was raised by Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle. According to Borh's model, electron move around the nucleus in a well-
defined orbit and hence its position and moment can be determined simultaneously.
But that’s impossible and against the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle
It is impossible to determine simultaneously the exact position and moment of a small
moving particle like an electron.
4- Borh's model could not estimate the periodic properties of the elements.
