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Structure Of Atom

Question
CBSEENCH11005286

What are the limitations (drawback or shortcomings) of Bohr's model of atom?

Solution

The main limitations of Bohr’s model are:
1. Bohr’s theory could successfully explain hydrogen spectrum and spectra of single electron species, but it failed to explain the spectra of multielectron atoms (atoms containing more than one electron).
2. Bohr’s theory failed to explain the splitting of spectral lines into a group of finer lines under the influence of a magnetic field (Zeeman effect) and of an electrical field (Stark effect).
3. Bohr’s theory failed to explain the motion of an electron in an atom in three dimensions.
4. Bohr’s theory could not explain the shapes of molecules formed by the combination of atoms.
5. de-Broglie (in 1923) suggested that electron has a dual character. It behaves like a particle as well as like a wave. But Bohr had treated electron only as a particle.
6. Bohr’s theory assumes that an electron revolves around the nucleus at a certain fixed distance from the nucleus with a definite velocity. This is not in accordance with Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.