Topic 2/12 Overview

➔2.1: The Nuclear Atom

➔2.2: Electron configuration

➔12.1: Electrons in Atoms

Continuous Spectrum
Bright-line (emission) Spectra
Hydrogen’s Line Spectrum
Data Booklet and Light Info
 Light as a Wave

Properties Def. Symbol Units

Wavelength λ m or nm
Frequency ν 1/s = s-1 = Hz
• Wavelength:
(λ: Lambda) is the distance between two
repeating points. (either two minima or two
maxima) on a sine wave.
• Frequency:
(ν: Nu) The number of waves that pass a point
in space each second.
Wavelength (λ) increases

Frequency (f) increases

The Bohr Model of the Atom
 Bohr Electron Diagrams
In 1913, Niels Bohr proposed a model of the
atom that looked a lot like an onion. The
nucleus was surrounded by “rings” or “shells”
of electrons:
The rings actually represent different
energy levels that can be occupied by the
electrons:

nucleus
Increasing
Energy
Energy level transitions
Energy level transitions
 Energy level transitions

Event Description

Excitation: An electron moves to a higher energy

level.
Absorption: Atom takes in energy from heat, light, or
electricity (moving electrons).
Emission: The atom releases a photon of light with a
wavelength determined by the size of the
energy difference between the two levels
of the transition.
Relaxation: An electron returns from a higher energy
to a lower energy level.
 Electron Transitions
We saw previously that electrons occupy different energy
levels in an atom.

Electron transitions occur when electrons “move” from

one energy level to another:

n=4 n=4
n=3 n=3
n=2 n=2

n=1
n=1
 A line spectrum gives us evidence of electron energy
levels.

Imagine we used a high-energy light source to excite a

sample of hydrogen atoms such that their lone electrons all
exist in the n = 3 energy level.
What would happen once we turn this light source off?

The energy emitted by the

“relaxing” electrons is detected as n=3
 
light. We would “see” a spectrum n=2
 

like this:  
 
 
 
n=1

E inc, ƛ dec
• Balmer series (visible) e- drop into the n = 2
• Lyman series (ultraviolet) e- drop into the n = 1
• Paschen series (infrared) e- drop into the n = 3
Convergence
• As n becomes larger, the
spacing between
neighboring levels
decreases

• Energy levels in H atom

converge at higher
energies & shorter λ as n
→ ∞.
 Significance of Convergence
Convergence limit (def.)- the wavelength at
which the discrete lines in the spectrum merge
into a continuum as n → ∞.
 Significance of Convergence

The convergence limit

corresponds to the
energy required to
completely remove the
electron from the
atom, a.k.a its
ionization energy.
Ionization Energy (a.k.a 1st IE)

Amount of energy needed to remove 1 mol of

electrons from 1 mole of atoms in the gaseous
state.
 Some definitions
• Ionization enthalpy, IE
energy change when 1 mol of e- removed
from 1 mol of atoms in the gas phase
Ionization Energies and your Data Booklet
Why is energy needed to ionize an atom?
Hydrogen’s Ionization Energy
Helium’s Ionization Energy
Lithium’s Ionization Energy
Lithium’s Ionization Energy
Beryllium’s Ionization Energy
IE trends and energy level model
 Energy level model of the atom
• Evidence from 1st IE’s reveals an
electronic shell structure of:

2-8-8-2
 IE trends and energy level model

The presence of a decrease in IE from

– atomic #2 to #3
– atomic #10 to #11
– atomic #18 to #19
suggests
a) that there is an abrupt change in distance
of the electron being removed (i.e. energy
levels)
 IE trends and energy level model

b) that the electron arrangement per energy

level is:

n=1 2 e- max
n=2 8 e-max
n=3 8 e- max
 IE and sublevels

• Irregular pattern of increase indicates that not all e- in

energy level have the same energy.
• Provides evidence for existence of energy sublevels.