NOTES # 2

Structure of the atom

Bohr’s Planetary Model
of the atom
Bohr’s Planetary Model of the atom
• Niels Bohr developed the first model of the
atom called the planetary model based on
the experimental data obtained by E.
Rutherford
• Bohr pictured the atom as consisting of a
small and dense nucleus surrounded by
electrons traveling in circular orbits, just as
the planets in our solar system are
traveling around the sun.
Bohr’s Planetary Model of the atom
• Bohr went on to explain that each of these orbits
was assigned a certain energy value, so they
were called energy level or energy shell. This
energy value related to the electron’s motion
around the nucleus, and is described to be fixed
or quantized.
• The electrons in the orbit closest to the nucleus
were at the lowest possible energy level called
the ground state or ground level. The energy
levels above the ground state are called the
excited states or excited levels.
Bohr’s Planetary Model of the atom
• According to Bohr’s model of the atom, and electron that loses
energy falls to a lower energy level, closer to the nucleus. An
electron that gains energy moves to a higher energy level,
farther from the nucleus.
• The energy levels within an atom are labelled with numbers,
starting from the lowest energy level, the one closest to the
nucleus. As the number of the energy level increases, it is
found farther from the nucleus and contains electron have
greater and greater energy. Each energy level can contain only
certain maximum number of electrons. However, in nature, this
maximum number in most cases is never realized
Electrons at the energy level of an atom
Energy
Level
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
number
Maximum
Number of 2 8 18 32 50 72 98
electron
allowed in
theory
Maximum
Number of 2 8 18 32 32 18 8
electron
actually
found in
nature
De Broglie’s Description
of Electron Behavior
 De Broglie’s Description of Electron
Behavior
• Other Physicist wondered why Bohr’s model restricted the
movement of electrons in certain orbits of specific and
increasing radii. French Physicist Louis de Broglie proposed
that an electron behaves like a wave, specifically a standing
wave.

• A standing wave is a wave that does not travel down its

medium. A standing wave is obtained when one point (called
the node) in the middle is stationary.
De Broglie’s Description of Electron
Behavior

STANDING WAVE
 De Broglie’s Description of Electron
Behavior
• If the electron in an orbit behaves as a
standing wave, de Broglie’s proposed, the
length of the wave must fit the orbit exactly.
He further went on to say that particles,
such as the electron, can behave like a
wave, and waves can behave like particles.
• De Broglie’s theory was confirmed by
experiments conducted by other scientist
who concluded that electrons did possess
wavelike properties.
• In 1927, German physicist Werner Heisenberg proposed what
is now called the uncertainty principle.
• Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states that there is no way
to determine both the precise location and momentum of small
particles at the same time.
• Bohr’s model of the atom described electrons orbiting around
the nucleus but Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle tell us that
it is impossible to pinpoint accurately the position and speed
of an electron.
• Bohr’s model of the atom could not account for
several observation about the behaviour of
electrons in atoms. The model did not provide a
complete description of electron behaviour, and
therefore, had to be modified Scientist had to find
a new way to described the distribution and
behaviour of the electrons in the atom.
• Bohr’s model of the atom could not account for
several observation about the behaviour of
electrons in atoms. The model did not provide a
complete description of electron behaviour, and
therefore, had to be modified Scientist had to find
a new way to described the distribution and
behaviour of the electrons in the atom.
The Quantum-mechanical
Model of the atom
 The Quantum-mechanical Model of the
atom

• In the latter part of the 1920s the quantum

mechanical model was developed
• Erwin Schrodinger who in 1926, developed
an equation which described the behaviour,
as well as the energies of particles.
 The Quantum-mechanical Model of the
atom
• He discovered that he could not point out
exactly the electron’s path. In fact, there
is no way one could specifically located
the electrons or how they move, but you
can be sure that the electrons do not
move around the nucleus in a circular
motion as Bohr suggested