Question

What is the name of the atomic model in which electrons are treated as waves? Who first wrote the electron wave equations that led to this model?

Short answer

The atomic model in which electrons are treated as waves is called the Wave-mechanical model or the Quantum mechanical model of the atom. Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger first wrote the electron wave equations that led to this model, developing the Schrödinger equation to describe the wave-like behavior of electrons in atoms.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the atomic model treating electrons as waves

The atomic model, in which electrons are treated as waves, is called the \(Wave-mechanical model\) or the \(Quantum mechanical model\) of the atom.

Determine who wrote the electron wave equations

The electron wave equations that led to the wave-mechanical model were first written by Austrian physicist \(Erwin Schrödinger\). He developed the Schrödinger equation, which is a fundamental equation in quantum mechanics, to describe the wave-like behavior of electrons in atoms.

Key concepts

Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a foundational pillar of modern physics that delves into the behavior of the smallest particles in the universe, such as electrons, photons, and atoms. At this minute scale, the conventional laws of classical mechanics, that govern everyday objects, cease to apply. Instead, particles exhibit both wave and particle-like characteristics—a duality that puzzled and intrigued scientists.

Quantum mechanics introduces the concept that particles can exist in multiple states simultaneously, known as superposition, and their properties are described in terms of probabilities rather than definitive values. The implications of quantum mechanics are far-reaching, influencing fields such as chemistry, material science, and even the workings of electronic devices like transistors and lasers.

Schrödinger Equation

The Schrödinger equation is a fundamental equation in quantum mechanics named after Erwin Schrödinger, who formulated it in 1926. It is a mathematical formulation for studying quantum wave equations, and it provides a way to calculate the wave function of a system.

The equation is quite elegant and vital for it describes how the quantum state of a physical system changes over time. In simple terms, the Schrödinger equation tells us how the wave function, which encapsulates all possible information about a system, evolves in space and time, and it is key to predicting how systems at the atomic and subatomic level behave.

Atomic Models

Atomic models are critical for visualizing and understanding atomic structure and the behavior of electrons within atoms. Throughout history, several models have been proposed, beginning with John Dalton's solid spheres and advancing through J.J. Thomson's plum pudding model, to Rutherford's nuclear model, and finally to Niels Bohr's planetary model which introduced quantized orbits for the electrons.

However, the Bohr model had limitations, and the wave-mechanical model, also known as the quantum mechanical model, eventually replaced it. This model, rooted in the principles of quantum mechanics, incorporates the dual wave-particle nature of electrons, leading to a more accurate description of electron configuration and chemical bonding.

Electron Wave Behavior

Electron wave behavior is a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics, describing the wave-like properties of electrons. This concept is particularly important when analyzing the structure and behavior of atoms. When electrons are treated as waves, their location around the nucleus is described by a probability distribution rather than a precise orbit.

The wave-mechanical model provides a visual representation, known as the electron cloud, depicting the regions where an electron is likely to be found. This behavior is described by wave functions, solutions to the Schrödinger equation, which also account for the quantization of energy levels and the unique atomic and molecular spectra.