Chemistry 2006 JAMB Past Questions - Question 38: The idea of planetary electrons was that of

Correct Answer

A

Explanation

The concept of planetary electrons is associated with the Bohr model of the atom, proposed by Danish physicist Niels Bohr in 1913. In Bohr's model, electrons were thought to orbit the atomic nucleus in discrete, stable orbits, much like planets orbiting the sun. This idea was an attempt to address the limitations of the classical Rutherford model, which couldn't explain the stability of atoms.

Bohr introduced the concept that electrons could only occupy certain quantized orbits with specific energy levels. Electrons were allowed to move between these orbits by absorbing or emitting discrete amounts of energy, corresponding to the absorption or emission of photons.

While the Bohr model had some success in explaining certain features of the hydrogen atom spectrum, it was later superseded by more advanced quantum mechanical models that provided a more accurate description of the behavior of electrons in atoms. The development of quantum mechanics, initiated by scientists like Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger, marked a significant advancement beyond the simplistic planetary model of the atom.