Difference between Bohr Model and Wave Mechanical Model
What are the key differences between the Bohr model and the wave mechanical model?
Options: a) Both models describe the atom's structure accurately. b) The Bohr model focuses on electron behavior while the wave mechanical model emphasizes wave functions. c) The Bohr model is outdated compared to the wave mechanical model. d) The wave mechanical model is solely based on experimental data without theoretical background.
Answer:
The Bohr model, which places electrons in fixed orbits, is outdated compared to the quantum mechanical model that uses probabilistic wave functions to describe electron positions and behaviors.
When comparing the Bohr model and the quantum mechanical model (also known as the wave mechanical model) of the atom, we find clear distinctions in how they describe electron behavior and energy levels. The Bohr model depicts electrons in well-defined circular orbits around the nucleus with quantized energy levels, whereas the quantum mechanical model uses wave functions to describe the probabilistic nature of electron positions around the nucleus. Unlike Bohr's model which is semi-classical, the quantum mechanical model is fully quantum and does not assume precise orbits but rather complex orbitals where the probability of finding an electron is highest.
From the provided options, (b), (c), and (d) are not entirely accurate since the Bohr model may predict the hydrogen spectrum but not necessarily that of other elements like neon, and the quantum mechanical model does have a strong theoretical foundation rather than being purely experimental. Therefore, answer (a) is not valid as only the quantum mechanical model accurately describes electrons as matter waves and accounts for electron-electron interactions in multi-electron atoms. Hence, the most accurate answer in this context would be option (c): The Bohr model is outdated compared to the wave mechanical model.