Abstract

Abstract Bohr’s theory of the atom did a fine job of explaining the absorption and em1ss10n spectra of one-electron atoms in terms of the quantum rules. Schrodinger’s wave mechanics did better in the sense that the rules of quantization were given a firm mathematical basis. However, problems still abounded. Experimental spectra revealed quite a number of problems for which wave mechanics (and matrix mechanics) appeared to have no solutions. In particular, some atomic emission lines predicted by the theory were seen to be split in the presence of a magnetic field into several quite distinct lines (a phenomenon known as the Zeeman effect). Neither wave mechanics nor matrix mechanics could explain this phenomenon without some further, largely ad hoc, assumptions. Worse still, when the spectra of atoms with two or more electrons were studied, certain predicted lines were found to be missing.

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