Drawbacks or Limitations of Bohr's Atomic Model
Question: What are the drawbacks of Bohr's model of atom?
Solution:
Bohr's atomic theory lacks consistency and has its own contradictions. It is neither based on a pure quantum theory nor pure classical theory.
Bohr's atomic model has the following limitations:
1. This model could not explain the spectra of complex atoms having more than one electron. But it successfully explains the spectra of simple atoms (i.e., the atoms having only one electron). For example, it can explain the spectra of hydrogen atom and hydrogen like atoms ($He^+, Li^{++}$ etc).
2. Bohr's model of atom could not explain fine structure of the spectral lines of Balmer series. When the spectral lines of a Balmer series was observed under a powerful microscope, it was found that each spectral line consists of closely spaced lines.
3. Bohr's atomic model does not give any indication regarding the arrangement and distribution of electrons in an atom.
4. This model could not account for the wave nature of electrons.
5. It does not give any idea about the relative intensities of spectral lines in the spectrum.
6. This model could not explain the (Zeeman effect) i.e. splitting of spectral line into a number of spectral lines under the effect of magnetic field.
7. This model could not explain (Stark effect) i.e. the splitting of spectral line into a number of spectral lines under the effect of electric field.