Bohr Model and Atomic Spectra
Bohr's model quantises electron angular momentum in the hydrogen atom, giving discrete energy levels E = -13.6/n2 eV and a line spectrum.
What is Bohr Model and Atomic Spectra?
Bohr's model quantises electron angular momentum in the hydrogen atom, giving discrete energy levels E = -13.6/n2 eV and a line spectrum.
Key formula / rule: Energy of the nth level of hydrogen is -13.6/n2 eV.
Key points
- Compute the energy and wavelength of a hydrogen transition.
- Explain the limitations of the Bohr model for multi-electron atoms.
Common exam trap
Applying the -13.6/n2 formula to multi-electron atoms.
Definitions
- Term
Bohr Model and Atomic Spectra
- Meaning
Bohr's model quantises electron angular momentum in the hydrogen atom, giving discrete energy levels E = -13.6/n2 eV and a line spectrum.
- Term
Bohr Model and Atomic Spectra — explanation
- Meaning
Discrete energies explain why hydrogen emits sharp lines rather than a continuum, and each spectral series corresponds to a fixed lower level. The model fails for multi-electron atoms, which motivates the quantum mechanical treatment.
Learning objectives
Compute the energy and wavelength of a hydrogen transition.
Explain the limitations of the Bohr model for multi-electron atoms.
Formulae
- Key point
Energy of the nth level of hydrogen is -13.6/n2 eV.
- Key point
Transitions to n = 2 produce the visible Balmer series.
- Key point
The model applies only to one-electron species such as H, He+ and Li2+.
Common mistakes
Applying the -13.6/n2 formula to multi-electron atoms.
Confusing the emitted photon energy with the level energy itself.
Keywords
Bohr
Model
Atomic
Spectra
Practice preview
What is the energy of an electron in the ground state (n=1) of a hydrogen atom according to Bohr's model?…
easy
Which of the following statements about Bohr's model is INCORRECT?…
medium
Calculate the wavelength of the first line of the Balmer series for a He+ ion. (Rydberg constant R = 1.097 x 10^7 m^-1)…
hard