A sodium atom (Z=11) contains 11 protons in its nucleus. Strictly speaking, the Bohr model does not apply, because the neutral atom contains 11 electrons instead of a single electron. However, we can apply the model to the outermost electron as an approximation, provided that we use an effective value (Z effective) rather than 11 for the number of protons in the nucleus.
(a) The ionization energy for the outermost electron in a sodium atom is 5.1 eV. Use the Bohr model with Z= Zeffective to calculate a value for Z effective.
(b) Using Z=11 and Z=effective, determine the corresponding two values for the radius of the outermost Bohr orbit.
Textbook answers are:
a. 1.8
b. 4.3×10-11 m and 2.6×10-10m