Models of the Hydrogen Atom

Explore quantum models from Bohr to Schrödinger

The hydrogen atom's emission spectrum revealed discrete energy levels. The Bohr model (1913) explained hydrogen's spectrum with quantized circular orbits: E_n = −13.6 eV/n². Electrons absorb photons to jump to higher levels and emit photons when falling to lower levels. The de Broglie model added standing wave resonance. The full quantum model describes electron probability densities (orbitals) rather than definite paths.