Many scientists found Rutherford’s Model to be incomplete He did not explain how the electrons are arranged He did not explain how the electrons were not
pulled in by the positive nucleus He did not explain the differences in chemical
behavior
In the early 1900’s, scientists began to analyze the visible light that elements emitted when heated
An element’s chemical behavior is related to the arrangement of its electrons
To better understand chemical behavior, we must first better understand light
Light
By 1900, evidence supported that light consists of waves.
Wave Properties
Amplitude- wave’s height from zero to crest. Wavelength- (λ) length from one point of one
wave to same point on next wave. Frequency- (f) number of wave cycles to pass a
given point per unit of time. Hertz- units of frequency = cycles/sec Wavelength and frequency are inversely
proportional to one another. Speed = wavelength x frequency (V = λf)
Wave Nature of Light
Consists of radiation (energy) over several wavelengths. Visible light portion is very small
Light consists of electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic Radiation- includes radio
waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet waves, X-rays, and gamma rays.
All waves travel at the speed of light (c), which is 3.0 x 108 m/s.
Practice
If the wavelength of yellow light is 580 nm, determine the frequency.
The wave model is great, but it does NOT explain some important aspects of light’s interactions with matter
Particle Nature of Light
Max Planck studied the light emitted from heated objects
He concluded that matter can gain or lose energy in small specific amounts (quanta)
Quantum – minimum amount of energy that can be gained or lost by an atom
Photoelectric Effect
Electrons are emitted from a metal’s surface when certain frequency light shines on it
The frequency of light that required to do this varies by metal
Albert Einstein- proposed that light could be described as quanta of energy.
Light quanta are called photons. Wave-Particle behavior of light.
Energy of photon = hv (E=hf ) h- Planck’s constant = 6.626 x 10-34 Js v/f – frequency
Also, remember c = v λ
So… E = hc / λ
Practice
How much energy is emitted when light with a wavelength of 350 nm strikes an atom?
Atomic Spectra Electrons are normally at ground state By absorbing energy, the energy level rises to
2, 3, 4,or more (excited state) These electrons lose energy by emitting light
when they return to lower energy levels.
Atomic emission spectrum- frequencies of light emitted by an element separate into specific lines.
Each line in an emission spectrum matches to one exact frequency of light emitted by the atom.
No two elements have the same emission spectra. They are like the fingerprints of elements!