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What are the limitations of Bohr’s theory of hydrogen atom?

What are the limitations of Bohr’s theory of hydrogen atom?
 

Grade:12

1 Answers

KUNCHAM SAMPATH
402 Points
8 years ago
Bohr’s theory was able to explain successfully a number of experimental observed facts and
has correctly predicted the spectral lines of neutral hydrogen atom and singly ionized helium
atom, etc. in terms of only principal quantum number n. However, the theory fails to explain
the following facts.
(i)
The theory could not account the spectra of atoms more complex than hydrogen.
(ii) The theory does not give any information regarding the distribution and arrangement of
electrons in atom.
(iii) It does not explain the experimentally observed variations in intensity of the spectral lines of
an element.
(iv) This theory cannot be used to calculate about transitions from one level to another such as the
rate at which they occur or the selection rules which apply to them.
(v)
This theory fails for accounting the fine structure of spectral line. Actually it was found that
when spectral lines emitted by an atom are examined, each line is composed of several lines
closely packed together. Bohr’s theory does not throw any light on it.
(vi) This theory cannot be used for the quantitative explanation of chemical bonding.
(vii) The theory fails to give correct result when an electric or magnetic field is applied to the atom.
It is found that when electric or magnetic field is applied to the atom, each spectral line splits
into several lines. The former effect is called as Stark effect while the later as Zeeman Effect.
 

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