Physics 30 – Ch 15.

4 – Lesson 4 – The Bohr Model of the Atom Notes pg 204

Rutherford proposed his planetary model of the atom as a means of relating classical mechanics to atoms,
its nucleus, and its electrons. Although it was a step forward in the modern understanding of the atom,
Rutherford’s planetary/nuclear model is invalid.

Using circular motion principles, if an electron were in a

planetary–like orbit, it would be accelerated, toward the center.
According to Maxwell’s laws of electromagnetism, and verified
by experiments at particle accelerators, accelerating charges
should radiate energy. The law of conservation of energy means
that if energy is radiating, then the electron would have to lose
potential energy and move inwards, and eventually spiral into
the nucleus. Since this doesn't happen, Rutherford's planetary
orbit model is invalid.

In 1913, Bohr published a paper suggesting a radical change to the planetary model of the atom.
The basic principles of the Bohr model, relating to the Hydrogen atom, are:

• Electrons can orbit the nucleus only at certain specific distances n=3
from the nucleus. These distances are particular multiples of the
radius of the smallest permitted orbit. n=2
n=1
• The orbits in an atom are quantized, (n = 1, n = 2, n = 3, etc) +

• Both the kinetic energy and the electric potential energy of an

electron in orbit around a nucleus depend on the electron’s
distance from the nucleus.
The Bohr Model

• The energy of an electron in an atom is also quantized. Each orbit corresponds to a different energy
level for the electron.

• An electron that stays in a particular orbit does not radiate any energy. Since the size and shape of the
orbit remain constant along with the energy of the electron, the orbits are often called stationary states.

• An electron can move from one energy level to another only by either emitting or absorbing energy
equal to the difference between the two energy levels. If the electron moves from a higher orbit, to a
lower orbit, it emits a photon equal to the energy difference in the level change. If the electron moves
to a higher orbit, it must absorb energy equal to the energy difference in the level change.
–11
The smallest possible orbit has a radius of r1, (5.29 × 10 m) and at this orbit, the electron has an energy
state of E1. There are an infinite number of higher orbits, and therefore an infinite number of possible
energy states. If r1 is the smallest orbit, then r∞ is the largest orbit. If E1 is the lowest energy level, then
E∞ is the highest energy state, (the point at which ionization occurs and the electron is freed).

Both Bohr’s and Rutherford’s (planetary) models predict a compact, positively charged nucleus
surrounded by electrons. As well, the greater the energy of the electron, the larger is its orbit. A critical
difference is the quantization of energy. In the Bohr model, electron orbits have discrete energy values
and sizes, whereas in the planetary model, an orbital radius can have any energy value and size.

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Orbit Sizes – only valid for hydrogen

Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom states that electrons can orbit the
–11
nucleus only at specific locations, where r1 = 5.29 × 10 m.

Orbit 1 Orbit 2 Orbit 3 Orbit 4 Orbit 5

1∙ r1 4∙ r1 9∙ r1 16∙ r1 25∙ r1
12∙ r1 22∙ r1 32∙ r1 42∙ r1 52∙ r1

For n, the principal quantum number,

−11
rn = n  5.29  10
2
m

memorize will be given in a question

Ex) Calculate the radius and diameter of the 6th Bohr orbit on an electron around a hydrogen nucleus.
−11
r6 = 6 · 5.29  10
2
m
−9
=1.90  10 m

Energy Levels – A “just” freed electron has no potential energy and no kinetic energy

Ex) A photon strikes a hydrogen atom, giving If this electron were to fall back into its orbital
its electron just enough energy to be freed position, then it loses potential energy, which
for hydrogen, is 13.6 eV.
free electron Energy = 0 eV
EP = 0 eV
r∞ Energy = –13.6 eV
–18
= –2.18 × 10 J

r1

Ex) If an electron falls from its highest orbit, r∞ to its lowest orbit, r1 ,calculate the wavelength of photon
it emits.
energy lost by the electron equals hc
energy emitted by the photon E=

h ·3.00  10
8 m
13.6eV = eV s

−8
 = 9.13  10 m

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Energy configurations for a hydrogen nucleus, where E1 = –13.6 eV

Orbit 1 Orbit 2 Orbit 3 Orbit 4 Orbit ∞

E1 E1 E1 E1 E1
2 2
= 0 eV

2 2 2
1 2 3 4

Or in general terms,

−18
−13.6 eV −2.18  10 J −11
rn = n  5.29  10
2
En = 2
= 2
where m
n n

Ex) An electron orbiting a hydrogen nucleus falls from the 4th orbit to the 3rd orbit.

a) Calculate the energy in the 4th orbit b) Calculate the energy in the 3rd orbit

−13.6eV −13.6eV
E4 = 2
E3 = 2
4 3
= −0.850eV = −1.51eV

c) Calculate ΔE d) Calculate the frequency of the emitted photon

E = Ef − Ei energy lost by the electron is emitted by the photon

= E3 − E4 E = hf
0.661eV = heV · f
= (−1.51eV) − (−0.850eV)
f = 1.60  10 Hz  infrared radiation
14
= − 0.661eV
Each element has a unique energy level configuration. Bohr's model was only valid for hydrogen.
Below is the energy configuration for an electron in a different atom.

Ex) If an electron is in the n = 4 orbit, how

much energy is necessary to free the
electron, and ionize the atom?
–7.65 eV + ΔE = 0 eV (ionized)
ΔE = +7.65 eV
Ex) If an electron transitions from the n = 1
to the n = 2 orbit, does it need to absorb
a photon, or emit a photon?
it needs to increase its potential, so
it needs to absorb a photon
Ex) Calculate the energy change from the
n = 1 to the n = 2 orbit.
E = E2 − E1
Ex) What is the ionization energy of this atom?
= (−30.6eV) − (−122.4eV)
= + 91.8eV
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Ex) If an electron is currently in the n = 4 orbit,
and falls to the n = 1 orbit, how many
different possible wavelengths of photons
could be emitted? Which drop will emit a
photon with the highest frequency?
4→3 3→2 2→1
4→2 3→1
4→1
The highest frequency will be from the
greatest energy change, so 4 → 1

Spectroscopy – specific frequencies of light are absorbed according to energy level configutations

A colleague of Bohr, Hans Hansen, had been studying the properties of gaseous hydrogen. When white
light is passed through hydrogen, certain wavelengths were absorbed. The hot gas would begin to radiate
light, but the light it radiated consisted only of a few frequencies. Hansen told Bohr that the wavelengths
of the light in the spectrum of hydrogen must have a mathematical pattern, but no one had yet explained
what the pattern was or why it occurred. Bohr found the explanation and provided the first theoretical
basis for spectroscopy.

If white light, containing all visible light frequencies, is directed at an element, then wavelengths of the
visible light that correspond to the allowable energy change positions of an electron will be absorbed.

Hydrogen gas
white light beam sample what colors emerge?

Hydrogen absorption spectrum

For example, the missing gap in the red spectrum corresponds to an absorbed photon that would move
the electron from a lower energy level to a higher energy level. Since only specific jumps are possible,
only specific wavelengths are absorbed.

As the hydrogen gas absorbs these photons, the atoms gain energy and start heating up. At thermal
equilibrium, or if the gas is allowed to cool off, the higher energy electrons will begin to return to the
ground state, emitting photons that correspond to energy levels between orbits.

hydrogen emission spectrum

Since only specific jumps are possible, only specific wavelengths are emitted.
207
A hot, dense material emits a continuous spectrum, without
any apparent dark or bright lines. Depending on its
temperature, it may be more reddish or blueish, but a
continuous spectrum is still produced, just with fewer
photons at the other wavelengths.

A hundred years before Planck, Rutherford, and Bohr were formulating their hypotheses about atomic
structure, physicists and chemists were analyzing the light coming from the sun, in comparison with light
coming from a hot object. In order for them to recognize that wavelengths are missing or being emitted,
the light is best passed through a prism to cause the wavelengths to spread out.

A narrow beam of white light can be directed at a

hydrogen sample, and then allowed to refract through hydrogen gas
sample
a prism, and the absorption and emission spectrum is
visible to the naked eye.

In 1802, the English chemist William Hyde Wollaston was the first person to note the appearance of a
number of dark features in the solar spectrum, when looking at light from the sun, versus light from a hot
object on earth. the Fraunhofer lines are a set of spectral lines named after the German physicist Joseph
von Fraunhofer (1787–1826). In 1814, Fraunhofer also discovered the lines and began a systematic study
of the wavelengths of these features. In all, he mapped over 570 absorption lines.

By 1859, German physicist, Gustav Kirchhoff , had established that gases of different elements or
compounds under low pressure each have a unique spectrum. Kirchhoff and others used spectra to
identify a number of previously unknown elements. As white light was shined upon the low–pressure
gas, it would heat up. Then the white light is turned off, the gas begins to cool, producing an emission
spectrum.

• A hot gas at low pressure has an emission (bright line) spectrum with bright lines at distinct
characteristic wavelengths.

208
When a high–energy electron moves to each lower orbit, it emits radiation at a specific frequency, which
may, or may not be in the visible spectrum. The colors you see correspond to the emitted frequency
within the visual spectrum. A tool called a spectrometer is a device for measure the wavelengths of light
in a spectrum. Improvements in the resolution of spectrometers made them a powerful analytic tool. For
example, scientists have painstakingly matched the dark Fraunhofer lines in the solar spectrum to the
spectral patterns of dozens of elements, thus proving that these elements are present in the Sun’s
atmosphere.

Each element, in the periodic table, has a unique arrangement of protons and neutrons, and therefore has
a unique arrangement of stable electron energy levels. As elements have more electrons in more orbit
positions, the absorption and emission spectrums become quite variable, and complex.

Nowadays, scientists have discovered that the same effect can be accomplished by shining radiation over
a broad spectrum at a solid, and analyzing the wavelengths that are reflected. Each element, and
compound, absorbs and reflects radiation uniquely. By comparing the various returns of emitted
frequencies, scientists can study the composition of matter without requiring it be in a low–temperature
gaseous state.

The Mars rovers are using this principle as they study the composition of minerals on its surface. There
are several varieties of spectrometers, including x–ray spectrometry, visible light spectrometry, alpha
particle spectrometry, and so forth.
Mini-TES is an infrared spectrometer that can
determine the mineralogy of rocks and soils from a
distance by detecting their patterns of thermal
radiation. The variation in thermal radiation can
help scientists identify the minerals on Mars. Mini-
TES records the spectra of various rocks and soils.
These spectra are studied to determine the type of
minerals and their abundances at selected locations.
One particular goal is to search for minerals that
were formed by the action of water, such as
carbonates and clays. Mini-TES also looks at the
atmosphere of Mars and gathers data on
temperature, water vapor, and dust.

Assignment: Do questions 1 – 10, on the next two pages (Answer are on Notes pg 211)
and Text pg 779 (concept check) + Text pg 780: 6, 7a
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Lesson 4 Assignment

− 2.18 10 −18 J − 13.6 eV

For hydrogen: E n = 2
= where rn = n 2  5.29 10 −11 m
n n2

1) Calculate the radius of the 8th orbit of an electron orbiting a hydrogen nucleus

2) Calculate the energy level of an electron in the n = 8 orbit about a hydrogen nucleus

Use the following information to answer question 3

Energy Levels for Mercury Atoms (eV)

0 eV n=5

–1.6 eV n=4

–3.7 eV n=3

–5.5 eV n=2

–10.4 eV n=1

3) What wavelength of photon will ionize the Mercury atom, and free an electron?

4) If an electron falls from the n = 2 to the n = 1 orbit, what frequency of photon will be emitted?

210
The diagram, below, is an energy level diagram for the hydrogen atom.

5) How much energy is required to ionize a hydrogen

atom if the electron is in the n = 1 ground state?

6) How much energy is required to ionize a hydrogen

atom if it is in the n = 3 energy level?

7) Calculate the frequency of photon necessary to

ionize a hydrogen atom if its electron is currently at
the n = 3 energy level.

8) Calculate the wavelength emitted if an electron moves from the n = 5 to the n = 3 orbit.

9) If a photon with 2.99 eV of energy strikes an electron in the 2nd orbit (n = 2), what will be its new
energy level orbit?

10) From the n = 1 to the n = 2, there is a difference of 10.2 eV, where–as from the n = 2 to the n = 3
orbit, there is only a 1.9 eV difference. Why, as the quantum orbit number increases, does the energy
difference ΔE between each successive orbit decrease?

–9 –20 –7
Answers: 1) 3.39 × 10 m or 3.39 nm 2) –3.41 × 10 J or –0.213 eV 3) 1.19 × 10 m or 119 nm
15 14 –6
4) 1.18 × 10 Hz 5) 13.6 eV 6) 1.5 eV 7) 3.6 × 10 Hz 8) 1.3 × 10 m
9) n = 5 10) answers will vary
211