Mr.

Nderitu
POSTULATES OF BOHR’S ATOMIC
MODEL
1. In an atom, the electrons revolve around
the nucleus in certain definite circular paths
called orbits, or shells.
2. Each shell or orbit corresponds to a
definite energy. Therefore, these circular
orbits are also known as energy levels or
energy shells.
3. The orbits or energy levels are
characterized by an integer not, where, n can
have values 1, 2, 3, 4……. The integer not
(= 1, 2, 3…) is called the quantum number
of respective orbit. The orbits are numbered
as 1, 2, 3, 4………… etc., starting from the
nucleus side. Thus, the orbit for which n=1
is the lowest energy level.

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The orbits corresponding to n =
1,2,3,4…..etc., are also designated as
K,L,M,N……….etc., shells. When the
electron is in the lowest energy level, it is
said to be in the ground state.
Since, electronics can be present only in
these orbits, hence, these electrons can only
have energies corresponding to these energy
levels, i.e., electrons in an atom can have
only certain permissible energies .
4. The electrons present in an atom can
move from a lower energy level (Elower) to a
level of higher energy (Ehigher) by absorbing
the appropriate energy. Similarly, an
electron can jump from a higher energy
level (Ehigher) to a lower energy level (Elower)
by losing the appropriate energy.
The energy absorbed or lost is equal to the
difference between the energies of the two
energy levels, i.e.,
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∆E= Ehigher - Elower
1. Electrons orbit the nucleus. They are
held in orbit by an electrostatic force.
2. Electrons can only be in certain,
permitted orbits and an electron does not
emit radiation when it is in one of these
orbits.
3. An electron only emits radiation when
it "falls" from a higher energy state to a
lower state.
4. The radii of the allowed orbits are also
quantized - each energy state has a
specific radius proportional to h/2π.
5.Angular momentum of electron will be
mvr = nh/2π,n is principle quantum no.

Limitations of Bohr's model of the atom

• Bohr's biggest contribution in his model
was to introduce quantum principles to
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 classical physics, but his model had a
few limitations:
• Spectra of Large atoms:
o The Bohr model could only
successfully explain the hydrogen
spectrum.
o It could NOT accurately calculate
the spectral lines of larger atoms.
o The model only worked for
hydrogen-like atoms
That is, if the atom had only one
electron.
• Relative Spectra Intensity
o Bohr's model could not explain why
the intensity of the spectra lines
were NOT all equal.
This suggests that some
transitions are favoured more
than others.
• Hyperfine spectral lines

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 oWith better equipment and careful
observation, it was found that there
were previously undiscovered
spectral lines
oThese were named Hyperfine lines
and they accompanied the other more
visible lines.
oBohr's model could not explain why
this was the case due to the lack of
equipment and development in
quantum physics.
The reason for these lines is
actually because of a hyperfine
structure of atoms.
Solved through developments into
Matrix Mechanics
• The Zeeman effect
oIt was found that, when hydrogen gas
was excited in a magnetic field, the
produced emission spectrum was
split.
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 o Bohr's model could not account for
this
Solved by accounting for the
existence of a tiny magnetic
moment of each electron.
• Stationary states
o Although Bohr stated that electrons
were in stationary states, he could
not explain why.
The reason is covered later
• Mixture of Sciences
o The Bohr model was a mixture of
quantum and classical physics
o This is an issue because it was
thought that quantum physics was
completely irrelevant and different
to classical physics.

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