12.

ATOMS
ONE MARK QUESTIONS
1. What is the value of Rydberg constant?
R = 1.097 × 107 m-1
2. In which region of electromagnetic spectrum does the a) Lyman b) Balmer c) Paschen d)
Brackett e) Pfund series lie?
a. UV region (b) Visible region (c) Infrared region (d) Infrared region (e) Infrared region
3. What is Impact Parameter?
It is the perpendicular distance between initial velocity vector of 𝛼 particle from centre of the
target nucleus.
4. What is angle of scattering for impact parameter b = 0?
θ = 180o
5. How does radius of electron orbit vary with principal quantum number ‘n’?
𝑅 𝑛 𝖺 𝑛2
6. How does energy of electron in hydrogen atom vary with principal quantum number ‘n’?
𝐸𝑛 𝖺 1⁄𝑛2
7. Define Excitation Energy.
Energy required by an electron to jump from a given orbit to a higher energy orbit is called
Excitation Energy.
8. What is ionization energy?
It is the minimum energy required to free the electron that is in the ground state of an atom.
9. What is the total energy of an electron in the highest energy state?
Zero.
TWO MARK QUESTIONS
1. Mention the limitations of Rutherford’s Atomic Model.
a) Model could not explain stability of atom.
b) Model could not explain origin of spectral lines.
2. Mention the merits of Rutherford Atomic Model.
a) Large angle scattering of 𝛼 particles could be explained.
b) The existence of nucleus and size of nucleus could be estimated.
3. Mention the limitations of Bohr’s Atomic Model.
a) Not applicable to atoms having more than one electron.
b) Cannot explain fine structure of spectral lines.
4. Mention the merits of Bohr’s Atomic Model.
a) It successfully explains the spectra of hydrogen-like atoms
b) Value of Rydberg constant is arrived at theoretically.

THREE MARK QUESTIONS

1. Explain Rutherford Atomic Model.
a) The entire mass and positive charge of the atom is concentrated at centre of atom called
nucleus.
b) Size of nucleus is estimated to be of the order of 10-15m and that of atom is 10-10m.
c) Atom is electrically neutral.
d) Centripetal force required for electron revolving around the nucleus is provided by
electrostatic force of attraction.
𝑚𝑣2 1 𝑍𝑒2
= ( )
𝑟 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2
2. Write the postulates of Bohr’s Atomic Model.
a) The electron in an atom revolves only in certain permitted orbits called stationary orbits
without radiating energy

1
 b) The angular momentum of revolving electron in stationary orbit is an integral multiple of ℎ
2𝜋
𝑛ℎ
That is 𝑚𝑣𝑟 = where n = 1, 2, 3……….
2𝜋
c) An atom radiates energy only when an electron jumps from one stationary orbit of higher
energy to lower energy orbit.
That is, ℎ𝜈 = 𝐸𝑖 – 𝐸𝑓 where 𝐸𝑖and 𝐸𝑓are the energies of the initial and final states.
3. Derive an expression for radius of nth stationary orbit of Hydrogen atom.
By Rutherford postulate, for hydrogen:
𝑚𝑣2 1 𝑒2
= ( ) (1)
𝑟 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟2

From Bohr’s Second Postulate,

𝑛ℎ
𝑚𝑣𝑟 =
2𝜋
Squaring on both sides
𝑛2ℎ2
𝑚2𝑣2𝑟2 = (2)
4𝜋2

Dividing equation (2) by equation (1):

𝒏𝟐𝒉𝟐𝗌𝟎
𝒓=
𝒎𝝅𝒆𝟐
4. Give de Broglie explanation of Bohr’s Quantization Rule.
According to de Broglie, an electron in circular orbit must be considered as a wave.
Total distance travelled = Circumference of orbit= 2𝜋𝑟𝑛. For a particular orbit:
2𝜋𝑟𝑛 = 𝑛𝜆 (1)
ℎ
For de Broglie wave, 𝜆=
𝑝

ℎ
𝜆= (2)
𝑚𝑣𝑛
𝑛ℎ
Substitute equation (2) in equation (1),2𝜋𝑟𝑛 =
𝑚𝑣𝑛
𝒏𝒉
⟹ 𝒎𝒗𝒏𝒓𝒏 =
𝟐𝝅
FIVE MARK QUESTIONS

1. Describe 𝑎-particle scattering experiment with a labelled diagram.

𝛼 particles emitted by radioactive source 214

83
Bi were collimated into narrow beam. Then the beam
was allowed to fall on thin gold foil. The scattered 𝛼 particles were observed through rotatable

2
 detector consisting of ZnS screen and microscope. 𝛼 particles produce light flashes on screen may
be viewed through microscope.

2. Derive an expression for total energy of electron in the nth stationary orbit of H - atom.
We know that electrostatic force provides the centripetal force for the revolving electron.

𝑚𝑣𝑛2 1 𝑒2
=
𝑟𝑛 4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟𝑛2

⟹ 𝑚𝑣2 = 1 𝑒2
𝑛
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑛
1 2
Kinetic energy = 𝐾 = 1 𝑚𝑣2 = 𝑒 (1)
𝑛
2 8𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑛

Potential energy of the electron is given by:

1 𝑒2
Potential energy = 𝑈 = − (2)
4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑛
The total energy of the electron is the sum its kinetic and potential energies.
1 𝑒2 1 𝑒2
Total energy = 𝐸𝑛 = 𝐾 + 𝑈 = −
8𝜋𝜀 𝑜 𝑟𝑛 4𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑛
1 𝑒 2
⟹ 𝐸𝑛 = − (3)
8𝜋𝜀 𝑜 𝑟𝑛
𝑛2ℎ2𝜀𝑜
From Bohr’s atom model: 𝑟𝑛 = 𝜋𝑚𝑒2 (4)

1 𝑒2 𝑒2 𝜋𝑚𝑒2
𝐸𝑛 = − = − ×
8𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑟𝑛 8𝜋𝜀𝑜 𝑛2ℎ2𝜀𝑜
𝒎𝒆𝟒
𝑬𝒏 = −
𝟖𝗌𝒐𝟐𝒉𝟐𝒏𝟐

NUMERICAL PROBLEMS
1. Calculate the longest wavelength in Balmer series and the series limit. (ANS: 656.3 nm, 364.6
nm)
2. The first member of Balmer series of Hydrogen atom has wavelength 656.3nm. Calculate the
wavelength of second member of same series. (ANS: 486.2 nm)