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Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms
Chapter 6, Problem 94a

Bohr's model can be used for hydrogen-like ions—ions that have only one electron, such as He+ and Li2+. (a) Why is the Bohr model applicable to He+ ions but not to neutral He atoms?

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Understand the Bohr model: The Bohr model is specifically designed for systems where a single electron orbits a nucleus. It simplifies the electron-nucleus interaction by considering only one electron moving in a fixed orbit around the nucleus.
Recognize the electron configuration of He<sup>+</sup> and neutral He: Helium (He) in its neutral state has two electrons. When it loses one electron, becoming He<sup>+</sup>, it has only one electron remaining.
Consider electron-electron interaction: In neutral helium, the presence of two electrons means that electron-electron repulsion must be considered, which complicates the system beyond what the Bohr model can accurately handle.
Apply the Bohr model to He<sup>+</sup>: Since He<sup>+</sup> has only one electron, the system is simplified to a single electron orbiting the nucleus, similar to the hydrogen atom. This fits the conditions under which the Bohr model provides a good approximation.
Conclude why Bohr model is not applicable to neutral He: The Bohr model does not account for interactions between multiple electrons, which is necessary for accurately describing the behavior of neutral helium with its two electrons.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Bohr's Model of the Atom

Bohr's model describes the atom as a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons that travel in circular orbits. It quantizes the angular momentum of electrons, allowing only certain stable orbits. This model is particularly effective for hydrogen-like ions, where a single electron is influenced by the nucleus's charge.
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Bohr Model of the Atom

Hydrogen-like Ions

Hydrogen-like ions are ions that contain only one electron, similar to hydrogen. Examples include He<sup>+</sup> and Li<sup>2+</sup>. The simplicity of having a single electron allows for the application of Bohr's model, as the electron's behavior can be accurately predicted by the model's equations, unlike in multi-electron systems.
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Electron-Electron Interactions

In neutral helium (He), there are two electrons that repel each other due to their negative charges. This electron-electron interaction complicates the energy levels and orbital shapes, making the Bohr model inadequate. The model does not account for these interactions, which are significant in multi-electron atoms, leading to deviations from the predictions made for hydrogen-like ions.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The series of emission lines of the hydrogen atom for which nf = 3 is called the Paschen series. (a) Determine the region of the electromagnetic spectrum in which the lines of the Paschen series are observed.

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Textbook Question

The series of emission lines of the hydrogen atom for which nf = 3 is called the Paschen series. (b) Calculate the wavelengths of the first three lines in the Paschen series—those for which ni = 4, 5, and 6.

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Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following sets of quantum numbers for the hydrogen atom are valid. If a set is not valid, indicate which of the quantum numbers has a value that is not valid: (e) n = 2, l = 1, ml = 1, ms = -12

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Open Question
An electron is accelerated through an electric potential to a kinetic energy of 1.6 * 10^-15 J. What is its characteristic wavelength? [Hint: Recall that the kinetic energy of a moving object is E = 1/2 mv^2, where m is the mass of the object and v is the speed of the object.]
Open Question
In the television series Star Trek, the transporter beam is a device used to “beam down” people from the Starship Enterprise to another location, such as the surface of a planet. The writers of the show put a “Heisenberg compensator” into the transporter beam mechanism. Explain why such a compensator (which is entirely fictional) would be necessary to get around Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.
Textbook Question

As discussed in the A Closer Look box on 'Measurement and the Uncertainty Principle,' the essence of the uncertainty principle is that we can't make a measurement without disturbing the system that we are measuring. (a) Why can't we measure the position of a subatomic particle without disturbing it?

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