In which you will learn about:•Blackbody Radiation

•The photoelectric effect•Atomic emission spectra

•The Bohr Model of the Atom

Unit 3: Atomic Theory & Quantum Mechanics

Sections A.4 – A.5

A.4 The Particle Nature of LightConsidering light as a wave explains much

of its everyday behaviorIt does NOT explain how light interacts with

matter. For example…Doesn’t explain why heated objects only emit

certain frequencies of light at a given temperature (blackbody radiation)

Doesn’t explain why some metals emit electrons when light of a specific frequency shines on them (photoelectric effect)

Blackbody RadiationWhen objects are heated, they emit glowing light

Temperature = average kinetic energy of particles

As the iron in the picture gets hotter, it possesses a greater amount of energy and emits different colors of light which correspond to different frequencies and wavelengths (red to orange to bluish)

The Quantum ModelThe wave model could not explain the

emission of these different wavelengthsIn 1900, Max Planck (1858-1947) began to

research this phenomenonHis results showed that matter can gain or

lose energy only in small, specific amounts, called quanta.

Quantum = the minimum amount of energy that can be gained or lost by an atom

Remember, light = electromagnetic radiation = energy.

Why is the quantum idea so weird?Planck and other physicists of the time thought

the concept of quantized energy was revolutionary, and some found it disturbing.

Think of it this way…You’re heating a cup of water in a microwaveYou should be able to add any amount of thermal

energy to the water by regulating the power and the time the microwave is on (ok, normal so far…)

Instead, the water’s temperature increases in infinitesimally small steps as its molecules absorb quanta of energy

Because the steps are so small, the temp. rise seems continuous, rather than stepwise

Energy of a QuantumQuantum = discrete amount of energy =

packet of energy = packet of light = photon

Ephoton = hνE = energyh = Planck’s constant = 6.626 x 10-34 J∙sν = frequencyNOTE: J stands for Joule, which is the SI unit for

energyNOTE 2: As energy increases, frequency

increases. They are directly proportional.

Quantum AnalogyThink of a child building a wall of wooden

blocksThe child can add or take away height from

the wall only in increments of whole numbers of blocks

Similarly, matter can only have certain amounts of energy—quantities of energy between these values do not exist

OR, think of a ladder. To climb it, you must place your feet on each rung, but you can’t step up using the space between.

Example Problem - GUESSEvery object gets its color by reflecting a certain

portion of incident light. The color is determined by the wavelength of the reflected photons, thus by their energy. What is the energy of a photon from the violet portion of the Sun’s light if it has a frequency of 7.230 x 1014 1/s?

G: ν = 7.230 x 1014 1/s & h = 6.626 x 10-34 J∙sU: E = ?E: E = hνS: E =(6.626 x 10-34 J∙s)(7.230 x 1014 1/s)S: 4.791 x 10-19 JThis answer makes sense, because although the

energy is very small, it is the energy of ONE photon of violet light.

The Photoelectric EffectScientists also knew that the wave model of light

could not explain a phenomenon called the photoelectric effect.

Photoelectric effect = electrons (called photoelectrons) are emitted from a metal’s surface when light of a certain frequency shines on the surfaceThis effect does NOT depend on the intensity

(brightness of the light)This effect does NOT depend on how long the light

shinesThe light MUST be at the threshold frequency or higher

for the effect to work Every metal has it’s own threshold frequency – for example,

potassium will eject electrons when green light shines on it, but beryllium will not.

The Photoelectric Effect

Light’s Dual NatureTo explain the photoelectric effect, Albert Einstein

proposed in 1905 that light has a dual natureA beam of light has wavelike and particle-like

properties. It can be thought of as a beam of bundles of energy

called photons.Photon = mass-less particle that carries a quantum of

energyEinstein calculated that the energy of a photon

must have a certain threshold value to cause the ejection of the photoelectron from the surface of the metal.Even small numbers of photons with energy above

the threshold value will cause the photoelectric effectEinstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for

this work (not for E=mc2 or special relativity!)

Wave-Particle DualityMost people get confused with the idea of

light being both a wave and a particle. I think of it like this (must watch this one on the comp!):

Optical illusions are also two things simultaneously!

Neon SignsHave you ever wondered how light is produced

in the glowing tubes of neon signs?This process is another phenomenon that cannot

be explained by the wave model of lightThe light of the neon sign is produced by

passing electricity through a tube filled with neon gas.Neon atoms in the tube absorb energy and

become excited (unstable)These excited atoms return to their stable

(ground) state by emitting light to release that energy.

Neon signs only produce red! Other colors that are in “neon” signs are actually different gases.

Atomic Emission SpectraIf the light emitted by the neon is passed

through a glass prism, neon’s atomic emission spectrum is produced.Atomic emission spectrum = the set of

frequencies of the electromagnetic waves emitted by atoms of the element (see below for neon’s—3rd from top—spectrum)

Atomic Spectra Up Close

What to look for in Atomic Emission SpectraNeon’s atomic emission spectrum consists of

several individual lines of color corresponding to the frequencies of radiation emitted by the atoms of neon

Note that it is NOT a continuous range of colors, such as the spectrum for sunlight (white light).

Each element’s atomic emission spectrum is unique and can be used to identify an element or determine whether that element is part of an unknown compound (we’ll be conducting a lab on this during our next long block!)

A.5 Bohr’s Model of the AtomThe dual wave-particle model of light accounted

for several previously unexplainable phenomena, but scientists still did not understand the relationship among atomic structure, electrons, and atomic emission spectra.Recall the hydrogen’s atomic emission spectrum is

discontinuous; that is, it is made up of only certain frequencies of light – WHY??

Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist working in Rutherford’s laboratory in 1913, proposed a quantum model for the hydrogen atom that seems to answer this question.His model also correctly predicted the frequencies

of the lines in hydrogen’s atomic emission spectrum

Energy States of HydrogenBohr proposed that the hydrogen atom has

only certain allowable energy states.Ground state = the lowest allowable energy

stateExcited state = when at atom gains energy,

its electrons are in this state

Bohr’s Planetary Model WITH OrbitsBohr related the hydrogen atom’s energy

states to the electron within the atom.He suggested that the electron in a hydrogen

atom moves around the nucleus in only certain allowed circular orbits.

The smaller the electron’s orbit, the lower the atom’s energy state, or energy level. The converse is also true.

Hydrogen can have many different excited states, although it only contains one electron (but it can only have one ground state).

Quantum NumbersIn order to complete his calculations, Bohr

assigned a number, n, called a quantum number, to each orbit.

Bohr’s Atomic Orbit

Quantum Number

Orbit Radius (nm)

Corresponding Atomic

Energy Level

Relative Energy

First n = 1 0.0529 1 E1

Second n = 2 0.212 2 E2 = 4E1

Third n = 3 0.476 3 E3 = 9E1

Fourth n = 4 0.846 4 E4 = 16E1

Fifth n = 5 1.32 5 E5 = 25E1

Sixth n = 6 1.90 6 E6 = 36E1

Seventh n = 7 2.59 7 E7 = 49E1

The Hydrogen Line SpectrumBohr suggested that the hydrogen atom is in the

ground state, also called the first energy level, when its single electron is in the n = 1 orbit.In the ground state, the atom does not radiate energy.

When energy is added from an outside source, the electron moves to a higher-energy orbit, such as n = 2.Such an electron transition raises the atom to the

excited state.When the atom is in the excited state, it can drop

from the higher-energy orbit to a lower-energy orbit.As a result of this transition, the atom emits a photon

corresponding to the energy difference between the two levels. ΔE = Ehigher-orbit – Elower-orbit = Ephoton = hν

Hydrogen Further ExplainedBecause only certain atomic energies are

possible, only certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation can be emitted (hence, the discontinuous lines on the spectrum).

Note the 4 Colored Lines…

Balmer, Lyman, Paschen SeriesIn the previous slide, it was shown that the four

colored lines in the hydrogen spectrum are a result of the electron moving from energy levels6 2 = purple line5 2 = blue line4 2 = green line3 2 = red line

These are the only transitions in the VISIBLE spectrumOther transitions can occur. If the electron goes

fromExcited state 1 = Lyman Series (only seen in UV)Excited state 2 = Balmer Series (only seen in

visible)Excited state 3 = Paschen Series (only seen in IR)

The Limits of Bohr’s ModelBohr’s model explained hydrogen’s observed spectral

linesBut it failed to explain the spectrum of any other element!

(too many electrons to consider)Bohr’s model also does not account for the chemical

behavior of atoms In fact, although Bohr’s idea of quantized energy levels

laid the groundwork for atomic models to come…Later experiments showed that the Bohr model was

fundamentally incorrect! (And now we have to re-teach you everything you ever learned about atoms, isn’t this fun?)

The movements of electrons in atoms are not completely understood even now; however, evidence indicates that electrons do NOT move around the nucleus in circular orbits.

A.4 Homework Questions1) Calculate the energy possessed by a single

photon of each of the following types of electromagnetic radiation.a) 6.32 x 1020 1/sb) 9.50 x 1013 Hzc) 1.05 x 1016 1/s

2) The blue color in some fireworks occurs when copper (I) chloride is heated to approximately 1500 K and emits blue light of wavelength 4.50 x 102 nm. How much energy does one photon of this light carry? (HINT: Use both light equations we’ve learned so far!)

CHALLENGE: The microwaves used to heat food have a wavelength of 0.125 m. What is the energy of one photon of the microwave oven?

A.4 Homework Questions Cont’d3) Compare the dual nature of light.4) Describe the three phenomena that can

only be explained by the particle model of light.

A.5 Homework Question5) Explain the reason, according to Bohr’s

atomic model, why atomic emission spectra contain only certain frequencies of light.