Name: de-Broglie Hypothesis
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 4 min 29 s
Description: There is a longstanding debate as to whether light is a wave or a particle. It is not limited to light. What about humans? Let us explore the logic of De Bro...

Question

Discuss Bohr's theory of atom. What are the defects of the theory? How an orbital differs from that of an orbit?

Accepted Answer

Bohr’s theory of an Atom:

1. In an atom, the electrons revolve around the nucleus in certain definite circular paths called orbits, or shells named as $K, L, M \dots . .$

2. Each shell or orbit corresponds to a definite energy. Therefore, these circular orbits are also known as energy levels or energy shells.

3. The energy of an orbit is quantized. Since, electrons can be present only in these orbits, hence, these electrons can only have energies corresponding to these energy levels, i.e., electrons in an atom can have only certain permissible energies.

4. The electrons present in an atom can move from a lower energy level to a level of higher energy by absorbing the appropriate energy. Similarly, an electron can jump from a higher energy level to a lower energy level by losing the appropriate energy.

Drawbacks of Bohr’s theory of an Atom

It violates the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. The Bohr atomic model theory considers electrons to have both a known radius and orbit, that is, known position and momentum at the same time, which is impossible according to Heisenberg.

It failed to explain the Zeeman effect and Stark effect.

An orbit is the simple planar representation of an electron. An orbital refers to the dimensional motion of an electron around the nucleus in a three-dimensional motion. An orbital can simply be defined as the space or the region where the electron is likely to be found the most.

Discuss Bohr's theory of atom. What are the defects of the theory? How an orbital differs from that of an orbit?

Important Questions on Structure of Atom

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