BOHR THEORY

1885: Born in Copenhagen, Denmark

1911: Obtained his Doctor’s degree in physics from Copenhagen University

1912: Bohr worked four months with Rutherford in Manchester and returned to
Copenhagen

1913: Bohr atomic theory

1922: Received Nobel prize in physics for his atomic structure and quantum theory

1962: Died in Carlsberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

Niels Bohr (1885 -1962)
BOHR THEORY
Bohr’s interpretation of hydrogen spectrum

Hydrogen spectrum contains few specific wavelengths and each wavelength has definite energy (E = hc/λ).

122nm 486nm 656nm Wavelength (nm) 1875nm

Lyman series (nf =1) Balmer series (nf =2) Paschen series (nf =3)

Bohr was the first to comprehend the meaning of H-spectrum and Balmer/Rydberg equation

Bohr interpreted that electrons in atom can have only specific energy values and postulated the existence of energy levels in the
atom
BOHR THEORY
Stationary States

Bohr rejected the well supported scientific idea (electrodynamics) that didn’t work and proposed mechanics (motion of bodies
under the action of forces) to describe the motion of electron. He postulated that:

Orbit, shell or
stationary state Electrons can revolve around the nucleus in stable orbits (shells
or stationary states) without radiating energy
+ nucleus

electron
This postulate was revolutionary, it contradicted electromagnetic
theory, which predicted that the accelerating electron would radiate
energy
BOHR THEORY
Energy Levels
Each shell or orbit corresponds to a definite energy. Therefore, these circular orbits are also called energy levels.

4
Energy of orbits: E1 < E2 < E3 < E4 …
3

2 The orbits corresponding to n =1, 2,3…etc. are also designated as

K,L, M, N… etc. shells
1

E4 E3 E2 E1 + K L M N Energy levels are not equally spaced. The gap between the energy
levels decreases and converges at higher energies
E2 – E1 > E3 – E2 > E4 – E3 …

Ground state: Electron in the lowest energy level

BOHR THEORY
Atomic spectra

Absorption spectra: E2 + hf = E3 Emission spectra: E4 - hf = E2

E4 E4
E3 E3

E2 E2

E1 E1

When an electron absorb a photon it disappear from its When an electron moves to a lower energy level it
orbit and reappear at a higher allowed orbit emit a photon

When an atom absorb or emit a photon, an electron can use this energy to move to another allowed orbit
HYDROGEN SPECTRUM
According to Bohr theory, the emission spectrum of hydrogen is due to the transition of electrons from a higher energy level to
lower energy level

n= α
n= 6
n= 5
Pfund
n= 4
Brackett Series EM region nf ni
n= 3 Lyman UV 1 2,3,4,...
Paschen
Balmer Visible 2 3,4,5,…
n= 2
Balmer Paschen Infrared 3 4,5,6,…
656nm 486nm 434 410
Brackett Infrared 4 6,7,8,…
Pfund Infrared 5 7,8,9,…

n= 1
Lyman
HYDROGEN SPECTRUM
One electron many spectral lines

A sample of hydrogen gas contains almost infinite number of atoms

Each individual hydrogen atom has many different energy levels

Individual hydrogen atoms absorb different amount of energy and get excited to different energy levels

Different atoms absorb different amount of energies Different atoms emit different frequencies of light

These electrons fall back to different energy levels and produce different frequencies/wavelength of light
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
Bohr-Bury Scheme (Rule-1)

A shell can accommodate a maximum of 2n 2 number of electrons. Where “n” is

1921 the shell number (principle quantum number)

Bohr, on the basis of spectral evidence

M
and Charles R Bury, on the basis of L Max. no. of
Shell
electrons (2n2)
chemical evidences proposed rules for K
K 1 2
the distribution of electrons in different
+ L 2 8
shells
M 3 18

N 4 32
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
Bohr-Bury Scheme (Rule-2)

Electrons may go into a new outer shell although the inner shells are
1921 incompletely filled.
Bohr, on the basis of spectral evidence
and Charles R Bury, on the basis of Electronic configuration of Ca

chemical evidences proposed rules for 20

Ca 2, 8, 8, 2
N
M
L
the distribution of electrons in different K
+
shells outer shell
with 2 electrons

incomplete inner shell

can accommodate 18 electrons
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
Bohr-Bury Scheme (Rule-3)

The outermost shell cannot have more than 8 electrons and the next inner shell
1921 (penultimate shell)cannot have more than 18 electrons.
Bohr, on the basis of spectral evidence
inner shells penultimate shell outer shell
and Charles R Bury, on the basis of
chemical evidences proposed rules for 34
Se 2 8 18 6 (6 valance electrons)
the distribution of electrons in different 36
Ar 2 8 18 8 (8 valance electrons)
shells 53
I 2 8 18 18 7 (7 valance electrons)
54
Xe 2 8 18 18 8 (8 valance electrons)

Valance electrons: Electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom

ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
Bohr-Bury Scheme (Rule-4)

Even if the capacity of the penultimate shell exceeds 8, it cannot have more than 8
1921 electrons unless there are 2 electrons in the outermost shell.
Bohr, on the basis of spectral evidence
inner shell penultimate shell outer shell
and Charles R Bury, on the basis of
chemical evidences proposed rules for K (1) L (2) M (3) N (4)

the distribution of electrons in different

19
K 2 8 8 1
20
Ca 2 8 8 2
shells
21
V 2 8 9 2
30
Zn 2 8 18 2
35
Br 2 8 18 7
ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
Bohr-Bury Scheme (Rule-4)
And it cannot have more than 9 electrons unless the anti–penultimate shell (i.e., the
shell immediately preceding the penultimate shell) is completely filled. In such
1921
cases, the outermost shell can have more than 2
Bohr, on the basis of spectral evidence
and Charles R Bury, on the basis of anti -penultimate shell penultimate shell outer shell

chemical evidences proposed rules for K (1) L (2) M (3) N (4) O(5) P(6)

the distribution of electrons in different 56

Ba 2 8 18 18 8 2

shells 57
La 2 8 18 18 9 2
58
Ce 2 8 18 19 9 2
74
W 2 8 18 32 12 2
83
Bi 2 8 18 32 18 5