Bohr's Model of the Atom

The Rutherford model had a major drawback, it could not explain why electrons do not fall into the
nucleus by taking a spiral path.

It was in concurrence with the electromagnetic theory that states "if a charged particle undergoes
accelerated motion, then it must radiate energy (lose) continuously".

The objections of Rutherford atomic model was contested by Niels Bohr atomic model in 1913. Niels Bohr
proposed the quantum theory of an atom. The theory was based on the quantum theory of radiation. Bohr
retained the main postulates of Rutherford planetary model and did some medication on the basis of
quantum physics. Hence, Bohr atomic model is also known as Rutherford-Bohr atomic model.

He depicts the atom as a tiny, spherical body which consists nucleus at center and negatively charged
particles (electrons) revolving around nucleus in a certain path known as orbit. He proposed some new
postulate with same basis concepts of Rutherford theory.

Bohr's Atomic Model

In order to explain the stability of an atom, Neils Bohr gave a new arrangement of electrons in the atom in
1913. According to Neils Bohr, the electrons could revolve around the nucleus in only 'certain
orbits' (called energy levels), each orbit having a different radius.

When an electron is revolving in a particular orbit or particular energy level around the nucleus, the
electron does not radiate energy (lose energy) even though it has accelerated motion around the nucleus.

Arrangement of energy levels around the nucleus

Niels Bohr Atomic Theory

An atom is made up of three particles, electrons, protons and neutrons. Electrons have a
negative charge and protons have a positive charge whereas neutrons have no charge. They are
neutral. Due to the presence of equal number of negative electrons and positive protons, the
atom as a whole is electrically neutral.

The protons and electrons are located in a small nucleus at the center of the atom. Due to the
presence of protons, the nucleus is positively charged.

The electrons revolve rapidly around the nucleus in fixed circular paths called energy levels or
shells. The 'energy levels' or 'shells' or 'orbits' are represented in two ways: either by the
numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 or by letters K, L, M, N, O and P. The energy levels are counted
from center outwards.

Each energy level is associated with a fixed amount of energy. The shell nearest to the nucleus
has minimum energy and the shell farthest from the nucleus has maximum energy.

There is no change in the energy of electrons as long as they keep revolving with the same
energy level. But, when an electron jumps from a lower energy level to a higher one, some
energy is absorbed while some energy is emitted.

When an electron jumps from a higher energy level to a lower one, the amount of energy emitted
is given by the difference of energies associated with the two levels. Thus, if an electron jumps
from orbit 1 (energy E1) to orbit 2 (energy E2), the change in energy is given by E2 - E1.

The energy change is accompanied by absorption of radiation energy of E = E2 -E1 = h where, h

is a constant called 'Planck's constant' and is the frequency of radiation absorbed or emitted.
The value of h is 6.626 x 10-34 J/s.

This model of the atom was able to explain the stability of the atom. It also explained the
phenomenon of atomic spectra and ionization of gases.

Postulates of Niels Bohr Atomic Theory

The important postulates in his theory are,

1. Electrons revolve round the nucleus with definite velocities in concentric circular orbits situated at
definite distances from the nucleus. The energy of an electron in a certain orbit remains constant.
As long as it remains in that orbit, it neither emits nor absorbs energy.

2. Bohr proposed that the angular momentum of an electron is quantized. Thus, the motion of an
electron is restricted to those orbits where its angular momentum is an integral multiple of where
h is Plancks constant. Thus we have the relationship mvr =nh/2, where m is mass of
electron, v is velocity of electron of said orbit, r is radius of that orbit, n is a simple integer.

3. The energy of an electron changes only when it moves from one orbit to another. An electronic
transition from an inner orbit to outer orbit involves absorption of energy. Similarly, when an
electron jumps from an outer orbit to inner orbit it releases energy, which is equal to the difference
between the two energy levels.
 4. The energy thus released in the form of a radiation of a certain frequency appears in the form a
line in the atomic spectrum. If the energy of an electron in the outer orbit (n 2) is E2 and energy of
electron in the inner orbit (n1) is E1 then E2 - E1 = E = hf.

5. Based on the Bohr theory Bohr calculated the radii of the various orbits and the energies
associated with the electrons present in those shells.

Bohr Model of Hydrogen

Bohr used the concept of quantization of energy and laws of classical physics. He gave many
mathematical expressions like radius of orbits, velocity and energy of electrons. These expressions
satisfactorily explain the spectrum of hydrogen. Lets calculate all these expressions to explain the
spectrum of hydrogen (1H1).

1. Radius of nth orbit

According to bohr model,the attraction force between electron and nucleus is balanced by centrifugal
force of electron which is due to motion of electron and tend to take electron away from nucleus.
Lets take,
Atomic number of atom = Z
Charge on electron = e
Charge on nucleus = Ze
Radius of nth orbit = r n

The electrostatic force of attraction = Ke2/(rn)2 --------------(1)

2
The centripetal force = m(vn) /rn ----------------(2)
Since both forces balanced each other. Hence from equation 1 and 2

Ke2/(rn) 2 = mv2/r
(or)
2
V = Ke
2
/rnm ------------(3)

Form Bohr postulate mVrn = nh/2

 2
or m2V2rn2 = h / n242
Plug the value of V2 from equ----(3)

m2 x(Ke2 /rn m) x r n
2
h /42
=n
2 2

2 2 2
m x Ke2 x rn = n h /4
(or)
2 2
rn = n h / mKe242 --------------(4)
As,
h / mKe 42 = 0.529
2 2

Plug value of constants in (4)

2
rn = n x 0.529

Since the atomic number for hydrogen is one, so, the radius of nth orbit of hydrogen will be
r1=1 0.529 .

Since the value of radius increases with increasing the value of n.

` Relation between r1 and rn of hydrogen atom

r2 = 22 0.529
And r3 =9 * 0.529
Hence r n = n2*0.529

2. Calculation of the velocity of electron in Bohr orbit

Form Bohr postulate

Ke2/ (rn) 2 = mV2/r

(or)

2
V2 = Ke / rn m
2 2
Since rn = n h / mKe242
2 4
Hence V2 = K e 42 / n2h2
 (or)

2
V = Ke 2/nh -------------(5)
Plug all constants (e ,r,h, ) values in equation (5)

V = 2.188 x 108 /n cm/sec

For hydrogen atom, Z = 1

Hence V = 2.188 x 108 /n cm.sec-1

3. Energy of electron in nth orbit

According to Bohr atomic model, the maximum energy value of electron at infinite is zero because of
negligible attraction force between electron and nucleus at infinite distance.
Hence, as electron comes closer to nucleus, the energy becomes negative.

Energy of electron is the sum of its potential energy because the electron lies in the field of the positive
nucleus and kinetic energy which is due to motion of electron. The potential energy of electron is negative
2
and equals to Ke / r, while the kinetic energy is positive and equals to 1/2mv2.
Hence the total energy of electron

2
En = Ke r + 1/2mv2
2
Since mv2 = Ke /rn
2
Hence En = (Ke / r) + 1/2 Ke2 / r

2
En = -Ke /2rn
We know that

2 2
rn = n h / mKe242
2
So En = 1/2 Ke2 x mKe 42 / n2h2
2 2 2
=K n x 2 me4 /n2h2
Since ( 22me4 K2 / h2) is a constant value, which is equals to 13.60 ev/atom.
2
So En = -(1/n ) x 13.60 ev/atom

En = (1/n
2
) x 2.179 erg/atom
2
En = -(1/n ) x 313.6 KCal/mol
2
En = -(1/n ) x 21.79 x 10 -19
J/atom

For hydrogen Z = 1 so for

2
So En = - 1/n x 13.60 eV/atom

Spectrum of Hydrogen Atom

Bohr atomic model states that the spectrum series arises when an electron jumps from an initial
stationary orbit (with principle quantum number ni) to the final orbit (with principle quantum number nf).

Hence, the energy change associated with these orbits are emitted as photon of frequency .

E = h = Ei - Ef

2
Since E = -1/2Ke rn
and
2 2
rn = n h / mKe242
2
Ei - Ef = hf = - [1/2 Ke2 x mKe 42 / h2](nf2 - ni2)

2 4
Ei - Ef = hf = - mK e 22/h2 [1/nf2 1/ni2 ]

Since f =C/
2 4
since E0=- mK e 22/h2
 1/= - (E0/hc )[1/nf2 1/ni2 ]

Here (E0/hc ) is a constant and equals to 1.0974*10 .m

7 -1
Its also known as Rydberg constant. Hence
2
Wave number=1/ = RH(1/nf 1/ni2] . This equation is known as Rydberg equation.

Spectral Evidence for Quantization Bohr Theory

1. When electron jumps from lower energy level to higher energy level, it absorbs relevant amount
of energy and this results in the absorption spectrum.

2. When an electron drops to higher level from lower level, it emits some amount of energy and
emission spectrum is observed.

3. Since there is only one electron in hydrogen atom, there should be one line in hydrogen
spectrum. But in Bohr theory, there are infinite number of orbits, so more than one line is
observed in spectrum.

Objection of Bohr Models:-

1. Bohr model could not explain those atoms which have more than one electron like lithium, helium.
This model was applicable only for those atoms which have one electron.

2. Bohr theory explained only spherical orbits. There was no explanation for elliptical orbits.

3. This model failed to explain Zeeman Effect and stark effect.

4. Bohr model could not explain the uncertainty principle of Heisenberg.

5. Bohr model was not related with classification and periodicity of elements.

6. By using Bohr atomic model, one cant explain the intensity of spectrum line.