What is the Bohr's atomic model?

1 Answer
Sep 26, 2014

A model in which electrons orbit the nucleus with quantised angular momentum.


Bohr used Balmer's work on the line spectrum of Hydrogen to prove the quantisation of electron energy levels in the atom. This complemented Planck's work which had given rise to quantum theory. So it was very significant.

There is a flaw in the model, that is, Bohr believed that electrons orbited the nucleus in much the same way as planets orbit the Sun. That is incorrect. Schrödinger proposed a model nearer to how we understand atomic structure which is based on wave behaviour. In the model electrons exist as a type of standing wave within the confinement of the nucleus' influence. I don't have a very strong grasp of this model so that's as far as I can explain it.