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42.1 Early Models of the Atom

Chapter 42 Atomic Physics

42.2 Line Spectra and Energy Levels

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42.3 The Bohr Model

Niels Bohr, Danish Physicist, made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and
quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. He developed a model of
the hydrogen atom based on quantum theory. Quantum theory that energy is transferred only in
certain well defined quantities. Orbital electrons reside in prescribed orbits with distinct energy levels
and can jump around. If an electron falls from a higher to a lower energy state a certain quantity of
energy (a light quantum) is emitted. A certain quantity will promote an electron to a higher orbital
level.

Bohr Atom assumptions

1. Electrons move in circular orbits around the nucleus. The classical physics principles of
conservation of energy and force can be applied to the electrons in orbit.

2. Electrons can exist in very specific orbits, called quantized states. There is angular momentum
associated with each orbit. L =mvr = nh/2π.

3. An electron does not radiate energy when it is in one of it allowed circular orbits. According to
classical theory it must. But if it did it would lose energy and spiral into the nucleus.

4. The atom radiates energy when an electron jumps from one allowed orbit to another. hf =Ei -Ef

The Bohr Atom applied to the hydrogen atom (1915)

Goals of the derivation:

1. Obtains orbital levels rn. These are the allowed radii of orbit.
2. Obtain the allowed energy levels En.
1 1 1
3. Verify with experimental equation 𝜆 = 𝑅(𝑛 2 − 𝑛 2)
𝑓 𝑓

4. Find theoretical value of R.

Derivation begins with force and conservation of energy equations.

1 −𝑒 2
Energy: 𝐸 = 𝐾 + 𝑈 = 𝑚𝑣 2 + 𝐾 (1)
2 𝑟
𝑣2 𝑒2
Force: 𝑚 =𝐾 (2)
𝑟 𝑟2

Equation (1) is the total energy an electron has because it includes both kinetic energy and potential
energy. After substitutions from equation (2) it can be shown that this equation can be simplified to

1 𝑒2
𝐸=− 𝐾 (3)
2 𝑟

This is the amount of external energy that would be needed to free the electron from orbit around the
hydrogen nucleus.
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First goal: Solve for r in equation (2).

𝑒2
𝑟= 𝐾 (4)
𝑚𝑣 2

The second Bohr assumption is that angular momentum of an orbital electron is quantized.

𝐿 = 𝑚𝑣𝑟 = 𝑛ћ (5)

where ћ = h/(2π).

Since it is assumed that angular momentum is quantized, there must be specific values for
v and r in equation (5). They are referred to as allowed velocities and radii. Solving 𝑚𝑣𝑟 = 𝑛ћ
for v gives the allowed velocities.
𝑛ћ
𝑣𝑛 = (6)
𝑚𝑟

To achieve the first goal of finding the orbital levels, equation (6) is substituted for velocity in (4)
and the result is solved for r which will now be called rn, where n is an integer number.

𝑛 2 ћ2
𝑟𝑛 = , n = 1, 2, 3, 4, …… (7)
𝑚𝑘𝑒 2

Finally, the second goal of obtaining the energy levels is achieved by substituting the quantized
orbital levels of equation (7), into the energy equation (3).

𝑚𝑘 2 e4 1
𝐸𝑛 = − ( 2 ) , n = 1, 2, 3, 4, …… (8)
2ћ2 𝑛

Next, substitutions for the constants are made.

• Electron mass m = 9.11 x 10-31 kg
• Electron charge e = 1.6 x 10-19 C,
• Coulomb constant k = 9 x 109 nm2/kg2
• Planks constant/2π ћ = h/(2π). = 4.14 x 10-15 eV s

13.6
𝐸𝑛 = − 𝑒𝑉 , n = 1, 2, 3, 4, …… (9)
𝑛2
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Now calculate the energy levels for the first few energy states.
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