Bohr's Atomic Model

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The Bohr model is a big part of Chemistry history. Neils Bohr proposed this model in 1913. It states that electrons orbit the nucleus at set distances. The model was an expansion on the Rutherford model overcame (Coffey, Universe Today). Neils Bohr’s model was based on his observations of the atomic emissions spectrum of the hydrogen atom (Coffey, Universe Today). His findings said that the electron can move to a higher-energy orbit by gaining an amount of energy equal to the difference in energy between the higher-energy orbit and the initial lower-energy orbit (pg.102, line 20). But time and research has proven and changed the Bohr model; Making this model one of the most famous models in Chemistry history. As stated earlier, Bohr said that electrons are at a set distance from the nucleus, but this proved to be true only in the hydrogen atom. Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom explained /observed spectral lines so well that many scientists concluded that the model could be applied to all atoms (pg.103, line 8). It was soon recognized, however, that Bohr’s approach didn’t explain the spectrum of atoms with more than one electron, nor did his theory explain the chemical behavior of atoms (pg.103, line 10). Most significantly, Bohr’s model violates the uncertainty principle because it features electrons with known orbital periods and a definite radius-two attributes which cannot be directly determined simultaneously (aps.org/physics). So basically, Bohr’s model was proved not true, because you cannot know exactly where an electron is at any given moment. Bohr’s model caused scientists to start asking questions. Why did the hydrogen’s electron exist around the nucleus only in certain allowed orbits with definite energies (pg.104, ... ... middle of paper ... ...n what we know now. We can learn so much more from science and chemistry. Though it may not be a subject I particularly love, it has given us so much knowledge on life and our makeup. I have made many points in this paper, but they all center around one subject: Bohr’s model and how big of an influence it made on chemistry history. There are a bunch of details and important equations that have come out of his model, and, although there might be a lot of facts in this paper, it all pertains to Bohr and his model. His model has taken us to where we are today and showed us how we can look at atoms and electrons. The quantum theory we have today would never have existed without him. Though he may have been wrong in his findings, our progress has shown how much truth there really was to Bohr’s model. And in many ways Bohr’s model is a big impact on chemistry history.

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