What Were Some of Neils Bohr's Contributions to Chemistry?

Niels Henrick Bohr was born on October 7^th 1885 in Demark. He was a physicist who made significant contributions to the understanding of quantum mechanics and atomic structure. He received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922. His work in atomic structure also greatly enhanced the field of chemistry.

Neils Bohr work at the Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico and was involved in what is known as the Manhattan Project. His concern was not in producing the atom bomb but in the arms race itself. Bohrs felt that information should be shared and for this he was not well liked in all communities. He was, however, a proponent of peace and the peaceful use of nuclear discoveries.

The Bohr model:

Neils Bohr created the Bohr model of the atom in 1913. This model is also sometimes referred to as the Rutherford-Bohr model. The model shows an atom as a positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons. The electrons orbit the nucleus in a circular pattern. The electrostatic forces of positive and negative provide the attraction of the nucleus and the electrons.

A hydrogen atom is used in the Bohr model and it is known for it's simplicity. While improvements to the model have been made, the Bohr model is still often used as an introduction for students in quantum mechanics.

Work on radiation:

Neils Bohrs study of the atom led him to believe that radiation was emitted from atoms due to electrons jumping from one orbit to another. As the electrons moved to another orbit they would lose energy that was emitted as radiation. This was in contrast to Rutherford's theory that electrons continuously emitted radiation. Bohr's theory of the nucleus was that positively charged protons were countered by large amounts of energy that held the nucleus together. It was this work by Bohrs that brought about the hypothesis that splitting atoms could produce the energy to make powerful weapons.

After Germany began it's occupation of Denmark in April of 1940 Bohr took his family to Sweden and then to the United States. It was in the United States that he helped in the development of the atomic bomb. He was interested in the power of nuclear energy but was also concerned about the control of it. He was the first recipient of the Atoms for Peace award.

Liquid Drop model:

Neils Bohr also worked on the principle of complementarity. Complementarity states that an electron can be interpreted in two mutually exclusive ways. While the interpretations are mutually exclusive they are also equally valid. Electrons can be interpreted as wave or particle models. His hypothesis was that an incoming particle would strike the nucleus and create an excited compound nucleus. The formed the basis of his liquid drop model and later provided a theory base for the explanation of fission.

References:

http://www.orcbs.msu.edu

http://www.pbs.org