2.

1 Bohr's atomic model

2.2 Quantum mechanical model

2.3 Electronic configuration

 Bohr’s Atomic Model
Four Bohr’s atomic postulate :
Electron moves in circular orbit around the nucleus of an atom
1 - electron does not release or absorb any energy at stationary state.

High Energy
Level

Low Energy Level 

orbit = energy level

= energy state
 In the specific energy level, the energy of electron is fixed in value or is quantised.
2
(quantised = fixed/specific/definite)

This means that an electron moving in an orbit can n=2

have a certain amount of energy.
electron n=1

1
En   RH  2 
n 
nucleus
(proton)
1  1
E1   RH  2  E 2   RH  2 
1  2 
n: Principal quantum number/ energy level= 1, 2, 3, …..∞
 Electron

Electrons move in the

You cannot stand between
same way.
the stairs.
They can only be at
You may stand only on the
certain energies
specific steps.
level, not in between 4
3
 An electron moves in an allowed energy
state will not absorb or radiate energy.
no change of energy while e- moves within
an orbit

4
 Energy is emitted or absorbed by an electron
as it changes from one allowed energy state
to another.
 n=5

energy
n=5
n=4 n=4
n=3 n=3

n=2 n=2

∆E = h (+) ∆E = h (-)

Energy absorbed Energy emitted

n=1 n=1

energy is released in the form of

photon when electron falls back from
Energy is absorbed in when a higher energy level to a lower
electron moves from lower energy energy level.
level to a higher energy level;
 POINTS TO REMEMBER

Energy level
 energy associated with a specific orbit
or state

Ground state

 The electrons have their lowest energy

Excited state
 The electrons have shifted from a lower
energy level to a higher energy level
 BOHR’S ATOMIC MODEL
Energy of an electron in its level (stationary state):
1
En = – RH
n2

RH = Rydberg constant
= 2.18 x 10–18 J

n = Principal quantum number

= 1, 2, 3, …..∞
 EXAMPLE 1

Calculate the energy (in J) of an electron when it

occupies a level equivalent to the quantum
number of n = 3 and n = 4.
 Energy of an electron at n = 3 (E3) :
1
E3 = – RH
n2
1
= – 2.18 x 10–18 J x
32
= – 2.42 x 10–19 J
Energy of an electron at n = 4 (E4) :
1
E4 = – RH
n2
1
= – 2.18 x 10–18 J x
42
= – 1.36 x 10–19 J
 n decrease (more close to nucleus) , E more negative
 BOHR’S ATOMIC MODEL
ENERGY CHANGE (E)
1 1
E1 = – RH( ) E2 = – RH( )
n12 n22
E = E2 – E1
Energy change between any two levels:

1 1
E = RHn1 = initial,
n12 n2 =nfinal
2
2
= h
When electron is absorbed specific amount of energy,
electron is excited from lower to higher energy level

n =1
n=2
n=3
n=4

Electron falls from higher to lower energy level .

A photon of energy is released.

Photon = a packet of light energy equals to h

 BOHR’S ATOMIC MODEL
 The amount of energy released by the electron
during transition is called a photon
 A photon of energy is released in the form of light with appropriate
frequency and wavelength.

 Therefore, the energy change (released/ absorbed) can be related as:

E = h c=x
c  : wavelength (m)
 =  : frequency

Thus, E = hc
c : speed of light = 3.00 x 108 m/s
 h : Planck’s constant = 6.6256 x 10-34 Js
 EXAMPLE 2

Which of these electron transitions correspond

to absorption of energy and which to emission?
a) n = 2 to n = 4
b) n = 3 to n = 1
a) n = 2 to n = 4
 Electron transition: lower to higher level

 Absorption

b) n = 3 to n = 1

 Electron transition: higher to lower level

 Emission
 EXAMPLE 3

Calculate the wavelength (in nm) of a

photon emitted by a hydrogen atom when
its electron drops from the n = 5 state to
the n = 3 state.
 1 1
E = RH n1 = initial, n2 = final
n12 n22

= 2.18 x 10-18 J x (1/25 – 1/9)

= – 1.55 x 10-19 J (energy emitted)

E = hc

 = hc
E
6.6256 x 10-34 (J•s) x 3.00 x 108 (m/s)
=
1.55 x 10-19J
= 1.282 x 10–6 m = 1282 nm
 TYPE OF SPECTRUM

SPECTRUM

Continuous Spectrum Line Spectrum

Hydrogen emission spectrum

Continuous Spectrum

Source:
white light,
sunlight
Line Spectrum
Source: gas in
discharge tube
Differences
Line spectrum Continuous spectrum
A spectrum of radiation that consist of A spectrum that consists of all
discrete line with specific wavelengths. wavelengths in the visible region.

Each line is separated by blank area. No blank area.

Source: light of discharge tube of H2, Source: white light, sun, moon etc.
Na etc.
When the electron of a hydrogen
atom at its ground state (lower n=4
energy level) absorbs sufficient n=3
amount of energy, it will move to a nucleus n=2
n=1
higher energy level

At higher energy level, electron is

unstable. It will fall back to a lower n=
n=5
energy level.
n=4

Energy
During the transition (falls form n=3
higher to lower energy level),
energy will be released in a form

Release Energy
Absorb Energy
of light (photon) at definite n=2
wavelength and frequency.

Since energy is quantised (fix in

value), line spectrum is n=1
produced.
FORMATION OF LINE SPECTRUM (emission series)
When the electrons fall back to lower energy levels,
radiant energies (photons) are emitted in the form of light
n=
n=5
n=4
n=3
Energy
Level
Energy n=2 Diagram

n=1
Emission of photon
E Line
spectrum
4th 3rd 2nd
1st 
Lyman Series
FORMATION OF LINE SPECTRUM (emission series)

n=
n=5
n=4
n=3
Energy
n=2 Energy
Level
Diagram

n=1
Emission of photon

Line E
spectrum 3rd 2nd 1st  Line
spectrum
Balmer Series
 Emission series of hydrogen atom

n=
n=6
n=5 Pfund series
n=4
Brackett series
n=3
Paschen series
n=2
Balmer series

Lyman series
n=1
 VARIOUS SERIES IN
ATOMIC HYDROGEN EMISSION

Series nf ni Spectrum
region
Lyman 1 2,3,4,… ultraviolet

Balmer 2 3,4,5,… visible

Paschen 3 4,5,6,… infrared

Brackett 4 5,6,7,... infrared

Pfund 5 6,7,8,… infrared

 EXAMPLE 4

The following diagram represents the line spectrum of hydrogen atom

for the Lyman series.

E D C B A
Line
spectrum

Specify the increasing order of the radiant energy,

frequency and wavelength of the emitted photon.
Which of the line that corresponds to:
i. the fourth line?
Line D
ii. the shortest wavelength?
Line E
iii. the lowest frequency?
Line A
 EXAMPLE 5

Y W
Line
spectrum Balmer series

Describe the transitions of electrons that lead to the lines

W, and Y, respectively.

ANSWER:

For W: transition of electron from n=4 to n=2

For Y: transition of electron from n=7 to n=2
 RYDBERG EQUATION
Used to calculate the wavelength of transition of
electron between two energy levels :

1 1 1
= RH ( 2 ) n1 < n2
 n1 n22

: wavelength of a spectral line Think! How to

get this value?
n1, n2: 1,2, 3 …..∞
RH: Rydberg constant = 1.097 x 107 m–1

 > 0, n1 < n2
 EXAMPLE 6

Use the Rydberg equation to calculate:

i. wavelength (in nm)

ii. frequency

iii. energy

of the fourth line in the Balmer series of hydrogen

spectrum .
 4th line of Balmer series : n=6 to n=2

By using Rydberg equation:

1 1 1
i) = RH n1 < n2
 n12 n22

= 1.097 x 107 m-1 1 1

22 62

= 2.437 x 106 m-1

 = 4.102 x 10-7 m = 410.2 nm

 ii) c 3.00 x 108 (m/s)
= =
 4.102 x 10-7 m

= 7.314 x 1014 s–1

iii) E = h = 6.6256 x 10–34 J•s x 7.314 x 1014 s–1

= 4.845 x 10–19 J
 EXAMPLE 7

An electron in the n = 5 level of an H atom

emits a photon of wavelength 1281 nm.
To which energy level does the electron
move?
 Electron transition: n1 = 5 n2 = ?

By using Rydberg equation:

1 1 1
= RH n1 < n2
 n12 n22

1
= 1.097 x 107 m-1 1 1
1281 x 10–9 m n12 52

7.8064 x 105 = 1.097 x 107 m-1 1 1

n12 52
1 = 0.11116
n12

n12 = 8.996 n1 = 3
 DIFFERENT VALUE OF RH AND USAGE

Used to calculate wavelength

1 1 1
= RH ( 2 ) n1 < n2
 n1 n22
RH: Rydberg constant = 1.097 x 107 m–1

Used to calculate energy

E = RH ( 1 1
) n1 = initial, n2 = final
n2 n22
1
RH: Rydberg constant = 2.18 x 10–18 J
 IONIZATION ENERGY OF H ATOM

Ionization energy (IE) : minimum energy (in kJ/mol)

required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom
or ion in its ground state.

H(g)  H+(g) + e  = ?

H atom is ionised when an electron is removed from :

n1 = 1 to n2 = ∞

E = RH ( 1 1
)
n2 n22
1
= 2.18 x 10-18 J x 1 1
12 ∞2
= 2.18 x 10-18 J
 IONIZATION ENERGY OF H ATOM

For removal of 1 mol electrons from 1 mol H atom:

2.18 x 10-18 J 6.02 x 1023 atoms H

E = x
1 atom H 1 mol

= 1.3124 x 106 J/mol

= 1312.4 kJ/mol
 FINDING IONISATION ENERGY EXPERIMENTALLY:

Convergent limit 1st line

frequency
increase

 1
increase
 Ionisation energy is determined by detecting
the wavelength of the convergence point
 Eventually the line become so close to each other
that merge at a point (convergent limit/
continum limit) form continuous band
 the nucleus can no longer hold the electron
 EXAMPLE 8

Calculate the:

i) Wavelength

ii) Frequency

iii) Wave number

of the last line of hydrogen spectrum in Lyman series

NOTE: Wave number = (1 / wavelength) or 1 / 

 For Lyman series: n1 = 1 & n2 = ∞

1 1 1
i) = RH n1 < n2
 n12 n22

= 1.097 x 107 m-1 x 1 1

12 ∞2
 = 9.116 x10-8 m

ii) c 3.00 x 108 (m/s)

= =
 9.116 x 10-8 m

= 3.291 x 1015 s–1

iii) Wave number , 1


1 1 1
= RH n1 < n2
 n12 n22

= 1.097 x 107 m-1 x 1 1

12 ∞2

= 1.097 x 107 m-1

 EXAMPLE 9

10.97 10.66 10.52 10.27 9.74 8.22

wave number (x106 m-1)

The Lyman series of the spectrum of hydrogen is shown above.

Calculate the ionisation energy of hydrogen from the spectrum.
 EXAMPLE 9

E = h x c

= 6.6256 x 10-34 (J•s) x 3.00 x 108 (m/s) x 10.97 x 106 m-1
= 218.06x 10-20 J

= 2.18 x 10-18J

For 1 mol of electrons:

Ionisation energy

= 2.18 X 10 -18J x 6.02 X 1023 atom H

1 atom H 1 mol
= 1.312 x 106 J mol-1

= 1312 kJ mol-1
 Unable to explain the line spectrum
of atoms or ions containing more
than one electron (such as helium). Why got extra lines….?

 Electron is restricted to move in a n=

n=7
certain distance around the nucleus n=6
n=5
of an atom. n=4

 Unable to explain the extra lines n=3

formed.

 Unable to explain the dual nature of n=2

electrons.

n=1
BALMER SERIES
 De Broglie’s Postulates

Tiny particles like electrons can also have wave

properties
Electrons should diffuse like wave into
dimensionless space.
Electrons should NOT be confined to a particular
energy level.

Wave
h
 = mu
property
Particle
property
Where:
h = Planck constant (J.s) m = particle mass (kg)
u = velocity (m/s)  = wavelength
 De Broglie’s Postulates

Bohr’s Atomic Model De Broglie’s Postulates

 Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
It is impossible to know simultaneously both the
momentum, p and the position, x of a moving particle
with certainty.
An electron should not be confined in a particular orbit
because its exact position and velocity cannot be
determined
We can only determine the probability of finding an
electron.
Where:
x = uncertainty in measuring the position
h
x p  p = uncertainty in measuring the momentum
4 = mv
h = Planck’s constant
 EXERCISE 1

Figure below shows the line spectrum of hydrogen

atom in the visible region

red blue indigo violet

frequency

i. Draw the energy levels in hydrogen atom and

show the electron transitions which produce
the above lines.
ii. Give the name of this particular series of lines.
 i.

n=6
n=5
n=4
n=3
Energy
n=2
red blue indigo violet

n=1
ii. Balmer series
 EXERCISE 2

In the hydrogen atom, an electron transition

from a higher to a lower energy level emits a
photon with a wavelength of 1282 nm in
Paschen series.

i. determine the energy level of the excited state

for this transition.
ii. State the region for this transition.
 i. Paschen series n1=3

1 1 1
= RH n1 < n2
 n12 n22

1
= 1.097 x 107 m-1 x 1 1
1282 x 10-9 32 n22
n2 = 5
The excited state n= 5

ii. Infrared