How did Bohr's 4 postulates explain observations and mesasurements of the hydrogen gas spectrum?

Question

I know what Bohr's four postulates are, but I'm not familiar with the measurements of the hydrogen gas spectrum, so I don't really know how they affected them..

Can anyone tell me?

How did the four postulates explain observations and measurements of the (hydrogen) gas spectrum?

Answer 1

When an electron of the hydrogen atom is excited from one level to another, then as a consequence of Bohr's postulate a specific amount of energy would be needed. That is because, the electrons in different orbits possess energy in discrete values.

so when the electron is excited it gains some energy to go to a higher level. When it comes back to a level below the excited level, either the same one from which it was excited or to some other lower level, it releases energy, because to remain in the lower level it doesnot require so much energy as was required while it was in a higher level. so it releases the extra energy as radiations having energy equal to the difference in the two energy levels (the higher and the lower energy level). This energy is characteristic of the two levels and has unique value. No other energy levels can have the same difference. So the wavelenght corresponding to the particular energy radiation is also unique.

so, in the emission spectra we get discrete lines....they are not continuous. Had they been continuous it would have meant radiations of all wavelengths(continuously varying) are present. which in turn would have meant that energy in continuous values is emitted.....which is not so. Energy is emitted in discrete packets are emitted.