72 MODERN PHYSICS

Explanation. For an electron of mass m, moving with a

speed v in an orbit of radius r, L = mvr = mr2 ω = nh/2π. n is
called the Principal quantum number. It takes integral values,
excluding zero; n = 1, 2, 3, 4 .......
(2) An atom radiates energy only when an electron
jumps from a stationary orbit of higher energy to one of lower
energy. If the electron jumps from an initial orbit of energy Ei
to a final orbit of energy Ef (Ei > Ef), a photon of frequency
Ei − E f
n= is emitted.
h
The Bohr formulae. Based on these postulates, Bohr
derived the formulae for (i) the radii of the stationary orbits Bohr’s Atomic Model of Radium.
and (ii) the total energy of the electron in the orbit.
Consider an atom whose nucleus has a positive charge Ze and mass
M (Fig. 6.8). For hydrogen, Z = 1. Let an electron of charge (–e) and
mass m move round the nucleus in an orbit of radius r. Since M >> m, the
nucleus is stationary. Hence the mass of the nucleus does not come into
the calculations.
The electrostatic force of attraction  1 ( Ze) (– e)
 = ...(1)
between the nucleus and the electron  4 π ε0 r2
The centrifugal force on the electron = mv2/r ...(2) Fig. 6.8
mv 2 1 Ze 2
The system will be stable if = ...(3)
r 4 π ε0 r 2
nh nh
According to Bohr’s first postulate, mvr = or v=
2π 2π r m
n2 h2
or v2 = ...(4)
4π2 r 2 m 2
2
Substituting this value of v in (3),
m  n2 h2  1 Ze 2
  =
r  4π2 r 2 m 2  4π ε 0 r2
n 2 h 2 ε0
or r = ...(5)
π Ze 2 m
∴ Radius of the nth permissible n 2 h 2 ε0
 = rn = ( Z = 1).
orbit for hydrogen  π e2 m
From equation (5) we find that rn ∝ n2.
The radii of the orbits are in the ratio of 1 : 4 : 9 : 16 : 25 etc.
The radius of the first orbit for hydrogen atom
12 × (6.625 × 10−34 ) 2 (8.854 × 10−12 )
r1 = m = 0.053 nm.
π (1.6 × 10−19 ) 2 (9.11 × 10−31 )
This is called the Bohr radius.
∴ r1 = 0.053 nm ; r2 = 22 r1 ....... and rn = n2 r1.
Calculation of total energy. The total energy of the electron in any orbit is the sum of its
kinetic and potential energies. The potential energy of the electron is considered to be zero when it
STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM 73
is at an infinite distance from the nucleus. P.E. of an electron in an orbit is given by the work done in
bringing the electron from infinity to that orbit. This amount of work is obtained by integrating the
electrostatic force of attraction between the nucleus and the electron from the limits ∞ to r.
r
Ze 2 – Ze 2
P.E. of the electron = ∫ 2
dr = ...(6)
∞ 4 π ε0 r 4 π ε0 r

1 Ze2
K.E. of the electron = mv 2 = ...(7)
2 8 π ε0 r
 2 Ze 2 
 from (3), mv = 
 4π ε 0 r 
∴ Total energy of the electron in the nth orbit = En = P.E. + K.E.
− Ze 2 Ze 2 − Ze 2
= + =
4 π ε0 r 8 π ε0 r 8 π ε0 r
Substituting the value of r from (5),
−me 4 Z 2
En = ...(8)
8 ε0 2 n 2 h 2
As the value of n increases, En increases. Hence, the outer orbits have greater energies than the
inner orbits.
Bohr’s interpretation of the Hydrogen spectrum.
If an electron jumps from an outer initial orbit n2 of higher energy to an inner orbit n1 of lower
(
energy, the frequency of the radiation emitted is given by ν = En 2 − En1 / h. )
4
−me 1
En2 =
8 ε0 h n2 2
2 2

−me 4 1
and En1 = [ Z = 1 for hydrogen].
8 ε0 2 h 2 n12
En 2 − En 1
me 4  1 1 
∴ n = =
2 3  2
− 2 ...(9)
h 8 ε0 h  n1 n2 
The wavenumber ν of a radiation is defined as the reciprocal of its wavelength λ in vacuum
and gives the number of waves contained in unit length in vacuum. ν = 1 / λ = ν / c.
me 4  1 1 
∴ ν =  −  ...(10)
8 ε0 2 ch3  n12 n2 2 
me 4
= R and is known as Rydberg constant.
8ε0 2 ch3
Substituting the values of m, e, εo, c and h in S.I. units,

(9.11 × 10−31 ) (1.6 × 10−19 ) 4

R = −12 2 8 −34 3
= 1.091 × 107 m −1
8(8.854 × 10 ) (3 × 10 ) (6.625 × 10 )
 1 1 
∴ ν = R 2 − 2  ...(11)
 n1 n2 
74 MODERN PHYSICS
Spectral series of hydrogen atom.
(1) Lyman series.
When an electron jumps from second, third, ... etc., orbits to the first orbit, we get the Lyman
series which lies in the ultraviolet region. Here, n1 = 1 and n2 = 2, 3, 4, 5 ....

∴ ν = R  1 − 1  ; n = 2,3, 4,5.....
 12 n 2 
(2) Balmer series.
When an electron jumps from outer orbits to the second orbit, n1 = 2 and n2 = 3, 4, 5 ... etc.

ν = R  1 − 1  ; n = 3, 4,5.....etc.
 22 n 2 
This series is called Balmer series and lies in the visible region of the spectrum. The first line
in the series (n = 3) is called the Hα line, the second (n = 4) the Hβ line and so on.
(3) Paschen series. Paschen series in the infrared region are given by n1 = 3 and n2 = 4, 5, 6
..... etc.

∴ ν = R  1 − 1  ; n = 4,5, 6, 7.....etc.
 32 n 2 
(4) Brackett series. If n1 = 4 and n2 = 5, 6, 7 ..... etc., we get the Brackett series.

∴ ν = R  1 − 1  ; n = 5, 6, 7.....
 42 n 2 
(5) Pfund series. If n1 = 5 and n2 = 6, 7, 8, ..... we get Pfund series.

ν = R  1 − 1  ; n = 6, 7,8.....
 52 n 2 
Brackett and Pfund series lie in the very far infrared region
of the hydrogen spectrum. By putting n = ∞ in each one of the
series, we get the wavenumber of the series limit, i.e., the last line
in the series. The electron jumps giving rise to the different series
in hydrogen are shown in Fig. 6.9.
The energy-level diagram. The equation
−me 4 Z 2
En =
8 ε0 2 n 2 h 2
can be diagrammatically represented. Then, it is called the energy-
level diagram. Substituting the values of m, e, ε0 and h we get for
Fig. 6.9
hydrogen (Z = 1)
me 4 Z 2 (9.11 × 10−31 ) (1.6 × 10−19 ) 4 (12 )
= = 21.76 × 10−19 J
8 ε0 2 h 2 8(8.854 × 10−12 ) 2 (6.625 × 10−34 ) 2
21.76 × 10−19
= eV = 13.6 eV.
1.6 × 10−19
∴ En = (–13.6/n2) eV for n = 1, 2, 3, .....
The lowest energy level E1 is called the normal or the ground state of the atom and the higher
energy levels E2, E3, E4 ... are called the excited states. As n increases, En increases. As n increases,
the energy levels crowd and tend to form a continuum.
STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM 75
In the energy-level diagram, the discrete energy states are represented by horizontal lines, and
the electronic jumps between these states by vertical lines (Fig. 6.10). Fig. 6.10 shows schematically
how spectral lines are related to atomic energy levels.
En(eV)0

Fig. 6.10
Example 1. Calculate the radius and energy of the electron in the nth orbit in hydrogen from
the following data:
e = 1.6 × 10–19 coulomb; m = 9.1 × 10–31 kg; h = 6.6 × 10–34 joule second; ε0 = 8.85 × 10–12
farad/metre and c = 3 × 108 ms–1.
Sol. Radius of the nth orbit for hydrogen is
n 2 h 2 ε0 n 2 (6.6 × 10−34 ) 2 (8.85 × 10−12 )
rn = =
πe 2 m π (1.6 × 10−19 ) 2 (9.1 × 10−31 )
∴ rn = 0.527 × 10–10 n2 metre = 0.527 n2 Å.
Total energy of the  −me 4
th  = En =
electron in the n orbit  8 ε0 2 n 2 h 2
– (9.1 × 10−31 ) (1.6 × 10−19 ) 4 – 21.85 × 10−19
En = −12 2 2 −34 2
= J
8(8.85 × 10 ) n (6.6 × 10 ) n2
– 21.85 × 10−19 −13.66
∴ En = 2 −19
eV = eV.
n (1.6 × 10 ) n2
Example 2. Calculate (a) the wavenumber (b) the wavelength and (c) frequency of the Hα line
of Hydrogen, assuming that the nucleus has infinite mass. Find the wavelength of the Balmer series
limit.
Sol. Hα line is emitted when the electron jumps from the 3rd orbit (n2 = 3) to the second orbit
(n1 = 2).

We have ν = R  1 − 1 
2 2
 n1 n2 
Here, n2 = 3, n1 = 2 and R = 1.097 × 107 m–1
Wave number of  7 1 1 7 −1
\  = ν = 1.097 × 10  −  = 0.1524 × 10 m
the H α line   4 9 
Wave length of  1 1
 = λ= = m = 6.561 × 10−7 m
the H α line  ν 0.1524 × 10 7