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Chapter 11: Introduction to Modern Atomic Theory
When we think of an electron as a wave and NOT as a
particle we do not know how the electron moves, we do not
know exactly where it is in the atom, we only know that
there is a probability of finding the electron in a three
dimensional region of space...called an orbital.
The electron occupies an orbital around the nucleus.
To get the electron to move from an orbital of low energy
to an orbital of higher energy the electron must absorb
energy (or a photon of light).
In the Bohr model we described the electron as
occuping orbits, or levels. When we say the electron is
in the n = 1 level we know this is lowest energy
level, and this level is closest to the nucleus.
But in our quantum mechanical model the concept of
levels become more complicated.
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