Electrons in Atoms

I. Waves and Particles

A. A New Atomic Model

Rutherford model of the atom
Dense positively charged nucleus
Mostly empty space
Did not explain where the electrons are
located around the nucleus
Did not explain why negative electrons
did not move to the p+ in the nucleus
and collapse atoms

A. A New Atomic Model

Prior to 1900 :
Electrons are particles (concentration of
energy and other properties in space
and time)
Light is waves (energy spread out over a
larger region of space and time; an
oscillation that moves outward from a
source.

A. A New Atomic Model

New atomic model emerged as a result of
experimentation with absorption and
emission of light by matter.
Studies revealed a relationship between
light and an atoms electrons.
Light was shown to exhibit both particle and
wave-like behaviors.
Electrons were also shown to exhibit dual
wave-particle nature.

B. Waves

Velocity (c) Unit: m/s

Amplitude (A) - distance from the origin to
the trough or crest. Unit will be length (m, )
Wavelength () - length of one complete
wave ; peak-to-peak distance. Unit: m, nm
Frequency ( or f ) - # of waves that pass a
point during a certain time period
hertz (Hz) = 1/s or s-1

B. Waves

crest

greater
amplitude
(intensity)
origin

trough

B. Waves
Frequency & wavelength are inversely
proportional

c =
c: speed of light (3.00 108 m/s)
: wavelength (m, nm, etc.)
: frequency (Hz)

B. Waves
EX: Light near the middle of the ultraviolet region
of the EM spectrum as a frequency of 2.73 x 10 16
s-1. Calculate its wavelength.

GIVEN:

WORK:

= 2.73 x 1016 s-1 = c

=?
c = 3.00 108 m/s = 3.00 108 m/s
2.73 x 1016 s-1
= 1.10 x 10-8 m

B. Waves
EX: Find the frequency of light with a
wavelength of 434 nm.
GIVEN:

WORK:

=c
=?

= 434 nm
= 4.34 10-7 m = 3.00 108 m/s
-7
8
4.34

10
m
c = 3.00 10 m/s
= 6.91 1014 Hz

C. Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic radiation a form of
energy that exhibits wavelike behavior as
it travels through space
Electromagnetic spectrum all forms of
electromagnetic radiation together

C. EM Spectrum
H
I
G
H

L
O
W
E
N
E
R
G
Y
red

R O Y

G.

orange

green

yellow

blue

indigo

violet

E
N
E
R
G
Y

C. EM Spectrum
H
I
G
H
E
N
E
R
G
Y

L
O
W
E
N
E
R
G
Y

C. EM Spectrum
Spectroscopy branch of science that
studies the interaction of light and atoms.
Spectrum pattern of or when
electromagnetic radiation is separated
into its parts.
Spectroscope instrument used to
measure the wavelength of light.

C. EM Spectrum
Continuous spectra use a diffraction
grating to separate the wavelengths into
the visible light spectrum. Shows all
wavelengths in a given range.
Example :
visible light (400 nm 700 nm)

C. EM Spectrum
Emission (bright line) spectra
Each line = different wavelength of light.
Lines represent energy emitted as e - fall
from excited state to lower/ground state
(from high energy levels to lower energy
levels)
Usage analyze substances for elements
present. Each emits its own color.
(Stars/astronomy)

C. EM Spectrum

C. EM Spectrum
Absorption (black line) spectra shows
the fraction of incident radiation absorbed
by the material over a range of
frequencies.

C. EM Spectrum
Ground state vs. excited state
Ground state Electrons in the atom are
in the lowest energy levels.
Excited state Electrons in the atom are
in higher energy levels. Electrons become
excited when they gain enough energy to
jump to a higher energy level in the atom.
Example: flames, spectral tubes

D. Waves vs Particles
Waves can bend around small obstacles.
Waves can fan out from pinholes.
Particles effuse (trickle out) from pinholes.
Ex. Balloon gradually deflates.

D. Waves vs Particles
Wave Behavior
Waves interfere
Waves diffract
(bend)
Waves can spread
out

Particle Behavior
Particles collide
Particles effuse
Particles are
concentrated in a
specific area

E. Particle Behavior of Light

Max Planck (1900)
Observed - emission of light from hot objects
Concluded - energy is
emitted in small, specific
amounts (quanta = bundle of energy)

E. Particle Behavior of Light

Planck (1900)

vs.
Classical Theory

Quantum Theory

E. Particle Behavior of Light

Einstein (1905) observed the photoelectric effect.
Electromagnetic radiation strikes the surface of the metal,
ejecting electrons from the metal, creating an electrical current.

E. Particle Behavior of Light

Einstein (1905)
Concluded - light has properties of both
waves and particles
wave-particle duality
Light moves like a wave, but transfers
energy like a stream of particles.

E. Particle Behavior of Light

Photon bundle of energy given off as light. A particle of
electromagnetic radiation having zero mass and carrying a quantum of
energy.
Quantum - minimum amount of energy that can be lost or gained by an
atom

E. Particle Behavior of Light

The energy of a quantum of energy is
proportional to its frequency.

E = h
E: energy (J, joules)
h: Plancks constant (6.6262 10-34 Js)
: frequency (Hz)

E. Particle Behavior of Light

EX: Find the energy of a red photon with a
frequency of 4.57 1014 Hz.
GIVEN:

WORK:

E=?
E = h
= 4.57 1014 Hz
E = (6.6262 10-34 Js)
h = 6.6262 10-34 Js
(4.57 1014 s-1)
E = 3.03 10-19 J