CBSE

Class 12 physics
Important Questions
Chapter 12
Atoms

1 Mark Questions

1. Name the series of hydrogen spectrum lying in ultraviolet and visible region?

Ans. Lyman series in ultraviolet region and Balmer series in visible region.

2. What is Bohr’s quantisation condition for the angular momentum of an electron

in the second orbit?

Ans. Since

2 Mark Questions

1. Define Bohr’s radius?

Ans. The radius of the first orbit of hydrogen atom is called Bohr’s radius.

It is equal to .

2. State the limitations of Bohr’s atomic model?

Ans. (1) It does not give any indication regarding the arrangement and distribution of
electrons in on atom.

(2) It could not account for the wave nature of electrons.

1
3. Suppose you are given a chance to repeat the alpha-particle scattering experiment
using a thin sheet of solid hydrogen in place of the gold foil. (Hydrogen is a solid at
temperatures below 14 K.) What results do you expect?

Ans. In the alpha-particle scattering experiment, if a thin sheet of solid hydrogen is used in
place of a gold foil, then the scattering angle would not be large enough. This is because the
mass of hydrogen ( ) is less than the mass of incident α-particles (

). Thus, the mass of the scattering particle is more than the target nucleus

(hydrogen). As a result, the α-particles would not bounce back if solid hydrogen is used in the
α-particle scattering experiment.

4. The ground state energy of hydrogen atom is -13.6 eV. What are the kinetic and
potential energies of the electron in this state?

Ans. Ground state energy of hydrogen atom, E = - 13.6 eV

This is the total energy of a hydrogen atom. Kinetic energy is equal to the negative of the total
energy.

Kinetic energy = - E = - (- 13.6) = 13.6 eV

Potential energy is equal to the negative of two times of kinetic energy.

Potential energy = = - 27 .2 eV

5. If Bohr's quantisation postulate (angular momentum ) is a basic law of

nature, it should be equally valid for the case of planetary motion also. Why then do we
never speak of quantisation of orbits of planets around the sun?

Ans. We never speak of quantization of orbits of planets around the Sun because the angular
momentum associated with planetary motion is largely relative to the value of Planck's
constant (h). The angular momentum of the Earth in its orbit is of the order of 1070h. This
leads to a very high value of quantum levels n of the order of 1070. For large values of n,
successive energies and angular momenta are relatively very small. Hence, the quantum
levels for planetary motion are considered continuous.

2
 3 Mark Questions

1. The half life period of a radioactive substance is 30 days. What is the time for of

its original mass to disintegrate?

Ans.

Here

Or

Or

t = 60 days

2. How many are emitted when changes to

Ans.

3
According to low of conservation of atomic number and mass number

90 = 82 + 2x – y

2x – y = 8 ----------- (1)

232 = 208 + 4x

x = 6 ----------- (2)

From (1) & (2)

2 (6) – y = 8

12 – 8 = y

Or

y = 4

3. Binding energies of and are 127.35 MeV and 289.3 MeV respectively.

Which of the two nuclei are more stable?

Ans.Stability of a nucleus is proportional to binding energy per nucleon

B.E / nucleon of

B.E / nucleon of

Is more stable than

4
4. What is the shortest wavelength present in the Paschen series of spectral lines?

Ans.Rydberg's formula is given as:

Where,

h = Planck's constant =

c = Speed of light =

( are integers)

The shortest wavelength present in the Paschen series of the spectral lines is given for values
= 3 and .

5. A difference of 2.3 eV separates two energy levels in an atom. What is the frequency
of radiation emitted when the atom makes a transition from the upper level to the
lower level?

Ans.Separation of two energy levels in an atom,

E = 2.3 eV

5
Let be the frequency of radiation emitted when the atom transits from the upper level to
the lower level.

We have the relation for energy as:

E = hv

Where,

h = Planck's constant

Hence, the frequency of the radiation is Hz.

6. The radius of the innermost electron orbit of a hydrogen atom is . What

are the radii of the n = 2 and n =3 orbits?

Ans.The radius of the innermost orbit of a hydrogen atom, =

Let be the radius of the orbit at n = 2. It is related to the radius of the innermost orbit as:

For n = 3, we can write the corresponding electron radius as:

6
Hence, the radii of an electron for n = 2 and n = 3 orbits are
respectively.

7. In accordance with the Bohr's model, find the quantum number that characterises
the earth's revolution around the sun in an orbit of radius with orbital
speed (Mass of earth =

Ans.Radius of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, r =

Orbital speed of the Earth,

Mass of the Earth, m =

According to Bohr's model, angular momentum is quantized and given as:

Where,

h = Planck's constant =

n = Quantum number

Hence, the quanta number that characterizes the Earth' revolution is

7
8. The total energy of an electron in the first excited state of the hydrogen atom is about
-3.4 eV.

(a) What is the kinetic energy of the electron in this state?

(b) What is the potential energy of the electron in this state?

(c) Which of the answers above would change if the choice of the zero of potential
energy is changed?

Ans.(a) Total energy of the electron, E = - 3.4 eV

Kinetic energy of the electron is equal to the negative of the total energy.

K = - E

= - ( - 3.4) = +3.4 eV

Hence, the kinetic energy of the electron in the given state is +3.4 eV.

(b) Potential energy (U) of the electron is equal to the negative of twice of its kinetic energy.

U = - 2 K

Hence, the potential energy of the electron in the given state is - 6.8 eV.

(c) The potential energy of a system depends on the reference point taken. Here, the
potential energy of the reference point is taken as zero. If the reference point is changed,
then the value of the potential energy of the system also changes. Since total energy is the
sum of kinetic and potential energies, total energy of the system will also change.

8
 5 Mark Questions

1. THE total energy of and electron in the first excited state of hydrogen atom is -3.4 eV.
Calculate

(1) K.E. of the electron in this state.

(2) P.E. of the electron in this state and

(3) Which of the answer would change if zero of PE is changed? Justify your answer?

Ans. (i) K.E = -E = 3.4eV

(ii) P.E = 02 K.E

P.E = 02 3.4

(iii) If the zero of the P.E is changed, K.E remains unchanged but the P.E will change, hence
total energy will change.

2. Prove that the speed of election in the ground sate of hydrogen atom is equal to the

speed of electron in the first excited state of hydrogen like Li++ atom.

Ans.

For ground state of hydrogen atom x = 1

From hydrogen like atom --------(1)

For Li++ atom z = 3 n = 2

9
 ------(2)

Hence from (1) and (2)

3. Draw a graph showing variation of potential energy of a pair of nucleon as a function

of their separation indicate the region in which the nuclear force is (a) Attractive (b)
Repulsive. Also write two characteristics features which distinguish it from the
coulomb’s force.

Ans.(i) Nuclear forces are charge independent.

(ii) They are non – central forces.

4. Choose the correct alternative from the clues given at the end of the each statement:

(a) The size of the atom in Thomson's model is .......... the atomic size in Rutherford's
model. (much greater than/no different from/much less than.)

(b) In the ground state of .......... electrons are in stable equilibrium, while in ..........

10
electrons always experience a net force.

(Thomson's model/ Rutherford's model.)

(c) A classical atom based on .......... is doomed to collapse.

(Thomson's model/ Rutherford's model.)

(d) An atom has a nearly continuous mass distribution in a .......... but has a highly non-
uniform mass distribution in ..........

(Thomson's model/ Rutherford's model.)

(e) The positively charged part of the atom possesses most of the mass in ..........
(Rutherford's model/both the models.)

Ans.(a) The sizes of the atoms taken in Thomson's model and Rutherford's model have the
same order of magnitude.

(b) In the ground state of Thomson's model, the electrons are in stable equilibrium.
However, in Rutherford's model, the electrons always experience a net force.

(c) A classical atom based on Rutherford's model is doomed to collapse.

(d) An atom has a nearly continuous mass distribution in Thomson's model, but has a highly
non-uniform mass distribution in Rutherford's model.

(e) The positively charged part of the atom possesses most of the mass in both the models.

5. A hydrogen atom initially in the ground level absorbs a photon, which excites it to
the n = 4 level. Determine the wavelength and frequency of the photon.

Ans. For ground level, = 1

Let be the energy of this level. It is known that is related with as:

11
The atom is excited to a higher level, = 4.

Let be the energy of this level.

The amount of energy absorbed by the photon is given as:

E = -

For a photon of wavelength , the expression of energy is written as:

Where,

h = Planck's constant =

c = Speed of light =

12
And, frequency of a photon is given by the relation,

Hence, the wavelength of the photon is 97 nm while the frequency is

6. (a) Using the Bohr's model calculate the speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in
the n = 1, 2, and 3 levels. (b) Calculate the orbital period in each of these levels.

Ans. (a) Let be the orbital speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in the ground state
level, = 1. For charge (e) of an electron, is given by the relation,

Where,

e =

∈0 = Permittivity of free space =

h = Planck's constant =

13
For level = 2, we can write the relation for the corresponding orbital speed as:

And, for = 3, we can write the relation for the corresponding orbital speed as:

Hence, the speed of the electron in a hydrogen atom in n = 1, n=2, and n=3 is
m/s, respectively.

(b) Let T1 be the orbital period of the electron when it is in level n1 = 1.

Orbital period is related to orbital speed as:

Where,

= Radius of the orbit

14
h = Planck's constant =

e = Charge on an electron =

∈0 = Permittivity of free space =

m = Mass of an electron =

For level = 2, we can write the period as:

Where,

= Radius of the electron in = 2

15
And, for level = 3, we can write the period as:

Where,

Hence, the orbital period in each of these levels is

respectively.

Q9. A 12.5 eV electron beam is used to bombard gaseous hydrogen at room

temperature. What series of wavelengths will be emitted?

Ans. It is given that the energy of the electron beam used to bombard gaseous hydrogen at
room temperature is 12.5 eV. Also, the energy of the gaseous hydrogen in its ground state at
room temperature is - 13.6 eV.

When gaseous hydrogen is bombarded with an electron beam, the energy of the gaseous

16
hydrogen becomes - 13.6 + 12.5 eV i.e., - 1.1 eV.

Orbital energy is related to orbit level (n) as:

For n = 3,

This energy is approximately equal to the energy of gaseous hydrogen. It can be concluded
that the electron has jumped from n = 1 to n = 3 level.

During its de-excitation, the electrons can jump from n = 3 to n = 1 directly, which forms a
line of the Lyman series of the hydrogen spectrum.

We have the relation for wave number for Lyman series as:

Where,

Ry = Rydberg constant =

= Wavelength of radiation emitted by the transition of the electron

For n = 3, we can obtain as:

If the electron jumps from n = 2 to n = 1, then the wavelength of the radiation is given as:

17
If the transition takes place from n = 3 to n = 2, then the wavelength of the radiation is given
as:

This radiation corresponds to the Balmer series of the hydrogen spectrum. Hence, in Lyman
series, two wavelengths i.e., 102.5 nm and 121.5 nm are emitted. And in the Balmer series,
one wavelength i.e., 656.33 nm is emitted.

10.Answer the following questions, which help you understand the difference between
Thomson's model and Rutherford's model better.

(a) Is the average angle of deflection of α​-particles by a thin gold foil predicted by
Thomson's model much less, about the same, or much greater than that predicted by
Rutherford's model?

(b) Is the probability of backward scattering (i.e., scattering of α-particles at angles

greater than 90°) predicted by Thomson's model much less, about the same, or much
greater than that predicted by Rutherford's model?

(c) Keeping other factors fixed, it is found experimentally that for small thickness t, the

18
number of α-particles scattered at moderate angles is proportional to t. What clue does
this linear dependence on t provide?

(d) In which model is it completely wrong to ignore multiple scattering for the
calculation of average angle of scattering of α-particles by a thin foil?

Ans.(a) about the same

The average angle of deflection of α​-particles by a thin gold foil predicted by Thomson's
model is about the same size as predicted by Rutherford's model. This is because the average
angle was taken in both models.

(b) much less

The probability of scattering of α-particles at angles greater than predicted by

Thomson's model is much less than that predicted by Rutherford's model.

(c) Scattering is mainly due to single collisions. The chances of a single collision increases
linearly with the number of target atoms. Since the number of target atoms increase with an
increase in thickness, the collision probability depends linearly on the thickness of the target.

(d) Thomson's model

It is wrong to ignore multiple scattering in Thomson's model for the calculation of average
angle of scattering of α​-particles by a thin foil. This is because a single collision causes very
little deflection in this model. Hence, the observed average scattering angle can be explained
only by considering multiple scattering.

11. The gravitational attraction between electron and proton in a hydrogen atom is
weaker than the coulomb attraction by a factor of about An alternative way of
looking at this fact is to estimate the radius of the first Bohr orbit of a hydrogen atom if
the electron and proton were bound by gravitational attraction. You will find the
answer interesting.

Ans.Radius of the first Bohr orbit is given by the relation,

19
Where,

∈0 = Permittivity of free space

r = Distance between the electron and the proton

Coulomb attraction between an electron and a proton is given as:

Gravitational force of attraction between an electron and a proton is given as:

Where,

G = Gravitational constant =

If the electrostatic (Coulomb) force and the gravitational force between an electron and a
proton are equal, then we can write:

∴FG = FC

20
Putting the value of equation (4) in equation (1), we get:

It is known that the universe is 156 billion light years wide or wide. Hence,
we can conclude that the radius of the first Bohr orbit is much greater than the estimated
size of the whole universe.

12. Obtain an expression for the frequency of radiation emitted when a hydrogen atom
de-excites from level n to level (n-1). For large n, show that this frequency equals the
classical frequency of revolution of the electron in the orbit.

Ans. It is given that a hydrogen atom de-excites from an upper level (n) to a lower level (n -
1). We have the relation for energy of radiation at level n as:

Where,

= Frequency of radiation at level n

21
h = plank’s constant

m = mass of hydrogen atom

e = charge on an electron

= Permittivity of free space

Now, the relation for energy ( ) of radiation at level (n - 1) is given as:

Where,

Energy (E) released as a result of de-excitation:

Where,

= Frequency of radiation emitted

Putting values from equations (i) and (ii) in equation (iii), we get:

22
For large n, we can write and

Classical relation of frequency of revolution of an electron is given as:

…..(v)

Where,

Velocity of the electron in the nth orbit is given as:

….(vi)

And, radius of the nth orbit is given as:

…(vii)

Putting the values of equations (vi) and (vii) in equation (v), we get:

…..(viii)

Hence, the frequency of radiation emitted by the hydrogen atom is equal to its classical
orbital frequency.

13. lassically, an electron can be in any orbit around the nucleus of an atom. Then what
determines the typical atomic size? Why is an atom not, say, thousand times bigger

23
than its typical size? The question had greatly puzzled Bohr before he arrived at his
famous model of the atom that you have learnt in the text. To simulate what he might
well have done before his discovery, let us play as follows with the basic constants of
nature and see if we can get a quantity with the dimensions of length that is roughly

equal to the known size of an atom

(a) Construct a quantity with the dimensions of length from the fundamental constants
e, me, and c. Determine its numerical value.

(b) You will find that the length obtained in (a) is many orders of magnitude smaller
than the atomic dimensions. Further, it involves c. But energies of atoms are mostly in
non-relativistic domain where c is not expected to play any role. This is what may have
suggested Bohr to discard c and look for 'something else' to get the right atomic size.
Now, the Planck's constant h had already made its appearance elsewhere. Bohr's great
insight lay in recognising that h, me, and e will yield the right atomic size. Construct a
quantity with the dimension of length from h, me, and e and confirm that its numerical
value has indeed the correct order of magnitude.

Ans.(a) Charge on an electron, e =

Mass of an electron, me =

Speed of light, c =

Let us take a quantity involving the given quantities as

Where,

∈0 = Permittivity of free space

And,

The numerical value of the taken quantity will be:

24
Hence, the numerical value of the taken quantity is much smaller than the typical size of an
atom.

(b) Charge on an electron

Mass of an electron, me =

Planck’s constant, h =

Let us take a quantity involving the given quantities as .

Where,

∈0 = Permittivity of free space

And,

The numerical value of the taken quantity will be:

Hence, the value of the quantity taken is of the order of the atomic size.

25
14. Obtain the first Bohr's radius and the ground state energy of a muonic hydrogen

atom [i.e., an atom in which a negatively charged muon of mass about 207me

orbits around a proton].

Ans. Mass of a negatively charged muon,
According to Bohr's model,

Bohr radius,

And, energy of a ground state electronic hydrogen atom,

We have the value of the first Bohr orbit,

Let be the radius of muonic hydrogen atom.

At equilibrium, we can write the relation as:

Hence, the value of the first Bohr radius of a muonic hydrogen atom is
We have,
Ee= - 13.6 eV
Take the ratio of these energies as:

Hence, the ground state energy of a muonic hydrogen atom is - 2.81 keV.

26