I thought I knew a lot about the Bohr model until I came across this one: Bohr's equations do not permit the electrons to be anywhere but in certain discrete shells. Also, Bohr says that atomic spectra are caused due to electron transitions between two energy levels. My question is : if this is the case, then what is the state of the electrons while they are "in transition" i.e., while they have left a certain energy level but are yet to reach the next? Here are some possible solutions and why they don't work: 1. This is merely an anomaly of the Bohr Theory.....There is no mention of this anomaly in any of the better textbooks or reference books on the subject, i've checked, but I couldn't find any. 2. The electrons will be unstable...... Unstability wold imply an extremely high Potential energy, but the electrons are allowed an energy having value between the energies of the shells, between which it is in transition.

Note that the Bohr model of the atom is now discarded and a quantum mechanics based on Shroedinger's equation is in use.....This problem would not occur in the present theories which are regarded to be true. However, this does present a pretty problem.

Good luck to you. Kingfisher

• Discrete energy levels - RFL - October 4, 1998 - 03:17 UTC