TOPIC 2: ATOMIC STRUCTURE

2.1 Bohr’s atomic model

a)Describe Bohr’s atomic model
b)Explain the existence of energy levels in atom.
c)Calculate the energy of an electron using:

d)Describe the formation of line spectrum of hydrogen atom.

e)Illustrate the formation of Lymann, Balmer, Paschen, Brackett and Pfund series
f)Calculate the energy change of an electron during transition using:

g)Calculate the energy of photon emitted by and electron that produces a particular wavelength during transition using

h) Perform calculation involving the Rydberg equation:

i) Calculate ionization energy of hydrogen atom from Lymann series

j) State the limitation of Bohr’s atomic model.
k) State the dual nature of electron using de Broglie’s postulate and Heisenberg’s uncertainty
Postulate 1
The electron of a hydrogen atom moves in a circular
orbit of certain radii with specific energy around the
nucleus.
In moving in the orbit, the electron does not radiate or
absorb any energy.

Postulate 2
The energy of an electron in a hydrogen atom is
quantised.
It means that the electron at a certain distance from the
nucleus can only possess a specific amount of energy.
Postulate 3
At ordinary conditions, the electron is at the ground state (lowest energy level, n=1)
If energy is supplied, the electron absorbs sufficient amount of energy and is promoted to
the excited state (higher energy level).
This process is called excitation,

Postulate 4
Electron at the excited state is unstable and it falls back to the lower energy level.
The transition of electron from a higher energy level to lower energy level will release a
specific amount of energy in the form of light (photon).
Calculate the energy (in J) of an electron when it occupies a level
equivalent to the quantum number of n = 3 and n = 4

Tips: n smaller (more close to nucleus), Energy, E more negative

 SPECTRUM

CONTINUOUS LINE
SPECTRUM SPECTRUM
If the white light is passed through a
slit and then passed through a glass
prism, series of colours is seen.

White light is a combination of various

colours

Different colour represents different

wavelength

This spectrum consists of all wavelengths of

visible light called continuous spectrum
A line spectrum is a series of
discrete lines with specific
wavelengths
When an electron of a hydrogen atom at its
ground state (n=1) absorbs sufficient
amount of energy, it will excite to a higher
energy level.

At higher energy level, electron is unstable.

It will fall back to a lower energy level.

During the transition (falls from higher to

lower energy level), energy will be released
in a form of light(photon) at definite
wavelength and frequency.

Since the energy is quantised (fix in value),

the wavelength produced can be seen as
line in the spectrum
How do the second line of Balmer series
form ?

Answer:

Electron at the ground state (n=1) absorbed energy and

excited to n=4
The excited electron is unstable.
It falls back to n=2 and released energy in the form of light.
Calculate the energy change of an electron when it
drops from the n=5 state to the n=3 state.

Answer:
Energy released when electron drops from higher to lower energy level is a
radiation energy (photon) with specific frequency and wavelength

If different amount energy is released,

We can see the light produced is with different wavelength
Wavelength can be seen as line in the spectrum
Wavelength can be in different region in the electromagnetic spectrum
For example; if the light produced has a wavelength that falls within visible
region, it can be seen in various colours
An electron in the n=5 level of an H atom emits a photon of wavelength
1281nm.
To which energy level does the electron move?

Answer:
 Ionization Energy (IE) is the minimum energy required to remove an electron
from a gaseous atom or ion in its ground state

H atom is ionised when an electron is For removal of 1 mol electrons from 1

removed from: mol H atom:
n = 1 to n = ∞
1 2
Ionization energy is determined by detecting the wavelenght of the
convergence point

Eventually the line become so close to each other that merge at a point
(convergent limit/ continum limit) form continuous band

Hence, where the nucleus can no longer hold the electron

Unable to explain the line spectrum of atoms or ions containing more than
one electron.

Electron is restricted to move in a certain distance around the nucleus of an

atom

Unable to explain the extra lines formed

Unable to explain the dual nature of electrons.

Tiny particles like electrons can also have wave properties

Electrons should diffuse like wave into dimensionless space

Electrons should NOT be confined to a particular energy level

It is imposible to know simultaneously both the momentum, p and the
position, x of a moving particle with certainty

An electron should not be confined in a particular orbit because its exact

position and velocity cannot be determined

We can only determine the probability of finding an electron

2.2 Quantum mechanics
a)Define the term orbital
b)Explain all four quantum numbers of an electron in an orbital:
i. principal quantum number, n
ii. angular momentum quantum number, l
iii. magnetic quantum number, m
iv. electron spin quantum number, s
c)Sketch the 3-D shaped of s, p and d orbitals.
 Define term orbital
An orbital is a three-dimensional region in space around the nucleus where
there is a high probability of finding an electron

https://www.chemtube3d.com/orbitals-p/
PRINCIPAL QUANTUM NUMBER (n) ANGULAR MOMENTUM QUANTUM NUMBER (ℓ)
● The value of n determines the size and energy of an atomic
● Also called azimuthal / subsidiary / orbital quantum number
orbital.
● ℓ = An integer from 0 to (n – 1) @ ℓ = (n – 1)
● The principal quantum number may have only positive integers:
● Indicates shape and type of orbital
n= 1,2,3……,∞
● n determine ℓ

MAGNETIC QUANTUM NUMBER (m) ELECTRON–SPIN QUANTUM NUMBER (s)

● m = an integer from –ℓ through 0 to +ℓ @ m=(–ℓ..0..+ℓ) ● determines the direction of spinning motions of an electron
● Indicates the orientation of the orbital in the space around ● Two possible motions of an electron
the nucleus ● clockwise and anti–clockwise
● m depends on the value of ℓ ● value of s: +½ and –½
n (n= 1,2,3,4) l (l=0,1,2,3) m (m=-l,0, +l) S (s=-1/2, +1/2) Sets of quantum number
orbital size orbital shape orbital orientation e- spin direction

1 0 s 0 +½@-½ (1,0,0,+ ½), 2

(1,0,0,- ½)

2 0 s 0 +½@-½ (1,0,0,+ ½), 2

(1,0,0,- ½)

1 p -1,0,+1 +½@-½ (2,1,-1,+ ½), 6

(2,1,-1,- ½),
(2,1,0,+ ½),
(2,1,0,- ½),
(2,1,+1,+ ½),
(2,1+1,- ½),
n (n= 1,2,3,4) l (l=0,1,2,3) m (m=-l,0, +l) S (s=-1/2, +1/2) Sets of quantum number
orbital size orbital shape orbital orientation e- spin direction

3 0 s 0 +½@-½ (1,0,0,+ ½), 2

(1,0,0,- ½)

1 p -1,0,+1 +½@-½ (2,1,-1,+ ½), 6

(2,1,-1,- ½),
(2,1,0,+ ½),
(2,1,0,- ½),
(2,1,+1,+ ½),
(2,1+1,- ½)

2 d -2,-1,0,+1,+2 +½@-½ (3,2,-2,+ ½), 10

(3,2,-2,- ½),
(3,2,-1,+ ½),
(3,2,-1,- ½),
(3,2,0,+ ½),
(3,2,0,- ½),
(3,2,+1,+ ½),
(3,2,+1,- ½),
(3,2,+2,+ ½),
(3,2,+2,- ½)
 Example question
Are the following quantum number combinations
allowed? If not, show two ways to correct them.
a) n = 1; ℓ = 0; m = –1

When n = 1; ℓ = 0
ℓ = 0; m = 0 m ≠ –1
So, the combination is not allowed.
It should be
n=1; ℓ=0; m=0 or n=2; ℓ=1; m=-1
2.3 Electronic configuration
a)Explain Aufbau Principle, Hund’s Rule and Pauli Exclusion
Principle
b)Predict the electronic configuration of atoms and monoatomic
ions using spdf notation and orbital diagram
c)Explain the anomalous electronic configuration of copper and
chromium
AUFBAU PRINCIPLE PAULI EXCLUSION
Electrons fill the lowest energy orbitals first and other PRINCIPLE
orbitals in order of increasing energy.
No two electrons in the same atom have the same four
quantum numbers
In other words,

Each electron must have a different set of quantum

numbers

HUND’S RULE
Most stable arrangement of electrons in orbital of a
subshell is the one with the greatest number of parallel
spin
Thus electrons fill each and all degenerate orbital
singly before they pair up.
 Example question
Write the electron configuration of
K (Z = 19)

K : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p64s1

● Cr and Cu both have electron configurations which are inconsistent with the Aufbau Principle

● The anomalous are explained on the basis that a fully filled or half-filled d orbital is more stable.

Element Expected electron configuration Observed/actual electron configuration

[Ar] 3d4 4s2 [Ar] 3d5 4s1

Cr (Z=24)
One electron from 4s moved to 3d orbital in order to have a half-filled orbital arrangement.
Half-filled 3d orbital is more stable than partially filled 3d orbital

[Ar] 3d9 4s2 [Ar] 3d10 4s1

Cu (Z=29)
One electron from 4s moved to 3d orbital in order to have a fully-filled orbital arrangement.
Fully-filled 3d orbital is more stable than partially filled 3d orbital