Bohr's Atomic Model

Niels Bohr's atomic model, proposed in 1913, was a significant advancement over earlier models of the
atom, such as the Rutherford model. Bohr's model was specifically developed to explain the discrete line
spectra observed in hydrogen atoms. The key ideas of Bohr's atomic model are:

1. Electron Orbits:

o Electrons revolve around the nucleus in fixed, circular orbits or energy levels. These
orbits are called "quantized" because only certain orbits are allowed, and the electron
can only exist in these specific orbits.

2. Energy Quantization:

o Each orbit corresponds to a specific energy level. The energy of an electron in a given
orbit is quantized and is proportional to the distance from the nucleus. The closer the
orbit is to the nucleus, the lower the energy.

3. Electron Transitions:

o Electrons can move between these orbits by absorbing or emitting discrete amounts of
energy (quanta). When an electron jumps from a higher energy level (further from the
nucleus) to a lower one (closer to the nucleus), it emits energy in the form of
electromagnetic radiation (light).

4. Stability of Electrons:

o Electrons in a given orbit do not radiate energy as long as they stay in that orbit. Only
when an electron transitions between orbits does it emit or absorb energy.

5. Quantized Angular Momentum:

o The angular momentum of an electron in a given orbit is quantized and is given by the

(quantum number), and ℏ\hbar is the reduced Planck constant. This condition restricts
formula: L=nℏL = n\hbar where LL is the angular momentum, nn is a positive integer

the allowed orbits for electrons.

Hydrogen Line Spectrum and Bohr's Explanation

One of the most striking phenomena that Bohr's model explained was the line spectrum of hydrogen.

Hydrogen Atom Spectrum

 When hydrogen gas is heated or electrically excited, it emits light at specific wavelengths,
forming a line spectrum rather than a continuous spectrum. The lines in the spectrum represent
the wavelengths of light emitted when an electron in a hydrogen atom transitions between
energy levels.

 The spectrum consists of several series of lines, and the most well-known are:

o Lyman Series: Transitions where the electron falls to the first energy level (n = 1). These
transitions are in the ultraviolet range.
 o Balmer Series: Transitions where the electron falls to the second energy level (n = 2).
These lines are visible and include the famous red line at 656 nm.

o Paschen Series: Transitions to the third energy level (n = 3), which occur in the infrared
region.

o Brackett Series: Transitions to the fourth energy level (n = 4), in the infrared region.

o Pfund Series: Transitions to the fifth energy level (n = 5), also in the infrared.

Bohr’s Explanation of the Hydrogen Spectrum

Bohr explained the discrete lines of the hydrogen spectrum by relating them to the quantized energy
levels of the electron. The key points are:

 The energy levels of the hydrogen atom are given by the formula:

En=−13.6n2 eVE_n = -\frac{13.6}{n^2} \, \text{eV}

where EnE_n is the energy of the electron in the nth orbit, and nn is the principal quantum number.

 Electron Transitions: When an electron transitions from a higher energy level (say, n2n_2) to a
lower energy level (say, n1n_1), the difference in energy between these two levels is emitted as
a photon of light. The energy of the emitted photon is given by:

ΔE=En1−En2=hν\Delta E = E_{n_1} - E_{n_2} = h\nu

where hh is Planck's constant, and ν\nu is the frequency of the emitted light.

 Wavelength of Light: The wavelength λ\lambda of the emitted photon is related to its frequency
by:

λ=cν\lambda = \frac{c}{\nu}

where cc is the speed of light.

 The difference in energy levels is quantized, so the wavelengths (or frequencies) of the emitted
radiation are also quantized, resulting in a series of sharp lines in the spectrum, rather than a
continuous distribution of wavelengths.

Deriving the Wavelength of Hydrogen Spectrum (Example for Balmer Series)

For the Balmer series, the electron transitions from higher levels (n ≥ 3) to n=2n = 2. The energy
difference for such a transition is:

ΔE=(−13.622)−(−13.6n2)=13.6(1n2−14)\Delta E = \left(-\frac{13.6}{2^2}\right) - \left(-\frac{13.6}{n^2}\

This energy corresponds to a photon of light with energy E=hνE = h\nu, and the frequency ν\nu is related
to the energy by ν=Eh\nu = \frac{E}{h}. Finally, the wavelength is obtained from the frequency using the
equation λ=cν\lambda = \frac{c}{\nu}.
Thus, Bohr’s model quantitatively explains the line spectrum of hydrogen and the discrete nature of the
energy levels in the atom.

Conclusion

Bohr’s atomic model was revolutionary in explaining the behavior of electrons in atoms, particularly in
the hydrogen atom. It showed that electrons can exist only in certain allowed orbits, and transitions
between these orbits lead to the emission of light at discrete wavelengths, producing the observed line
spectra. Although the Bohr model was later refined and replaced by more sophisticated quantum
mechanical models, it remains a foundational concept in the understanding of atomic structure and
spectra.