MODERN ATOMIC
THEORY
Chapter 4.3
Modern Models of the Atom
•In the modern atomic model, electrons can be found in certain
energy levels
•Furthermore, the location of the electrons within each level
cannot be predicted
Modern Models of the Atom
•In 1913, Niels Bohr suggested that “the energy of each
electron was related to the electron’s path around the nucleus”
•Electron location is limited to energy levels
Modern Models of the Atom
By 1925, Bohr’s model no
longer explained all
aspects of electron Actual Model
behavior
A new wave model was
developed, which stated
that electrons behave
more like waves vibrating
on a string rather than a
particle
Modern Models of the Atom
• The exact location of an electron cannot be determined, as stated by the Heisenberg
Uncertainty Principle
• Electron live in a “cloud of probability” called orbitals
• Imagine trying to determine the EXACT position of one blade of a spinning propeller ,
which you cannot do with your naked eyes, but you can guess where it “probably” will
be
Electron Energy Levels
The number of energy levels that are
filled in an atom depends upon the
number of electrons
The number of electrons that can fit
into each level are as follows:
Rule is: 2(n^2)
• 1st – 2 electrons
• 2nd – 8 electrons
• 3rd – 18 electrons
• 4th – 32 electrons
• 5th – 50 electrons
Electron Energy Levels
•The electrons located on the outermost shell or level are
known as valence electrons
Modern Models of the Atom
•The number of valence electrons is the same for every
element in a group
Octet Rule
• Atoms want 8 valence
electrons to be stable
• If an atom has more or less
than 8 valence electrons, it
will participate in a chemical
bond to obtain the octet
• If you have less than 8, atom
is unstable
Electron Energy Levels
There are • The s-orbital (sphere)
• The p-orbital (dumbbell)
four types of • The d-orbital (4 leaf clover-shaped)
orbitals • The f-orbital (8 leaf clover-shaped)
Electron Energy Levels
Orbitals
determine
the
number of
electrons
that each
level can
hold
Electron Orbitals
S orbital can hold 2 electrons
p orbital can hold 6 electrons
d orbital can hold 10 electrons
f orbital can hold 14 eletros
Hund’s Rule
Electron Energy Levels
Energy Transitions
• Electrons jump between energy levels when an atom gains or loses energy
• The lowest energy state is called the ground state
• It gains or loses energy by absorbing or emitting a photon, which is a “packet” of
energy
Energy Transitions
•If an electron absorbs a photon, it will become excited
an jump to a higher energy level
•If an electron emits a photon, it will drop down to a
lower energy state
Energy Transitions
•Atoms absorb or emit light at certain wavelengths
•High-energy photons have short wavelengths
•Low-energy photons have long wavelengths
