The Dual Nature of Electrons Particles or Waves

The Dual Nature of Electrons Particles or Waves - Atomic structure and the periodic table

Chemistry Explain provide notes about Atomic structure and the periodic table today we discuss “The Dual Nature of Electrons Atomic Particles or Waves” Inorganic Chemistry

The planetary theory of atomic structure put forward by Rutherford and Bohr describes the atom as a central nucleus surrounded by electrons in certain orbits. The electron is thus considered as a particle. In the 1920s it was shown that moving particles such as electrons behaved in some ways as waves. This is an important concept in explaining the electronic structure of atoms .. For some time light has been considered as either particles or waves. Certain materials such as potassium emit electrons when irradiated with visible light, or in some cases with ultraviolet light.

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This is called the photoelectric effect. It is explained by light traveling as particles called photons. If a photon collides with an electron, it can transfer its energy to the electron. If the energy of the photon is sufficiently large it can remove the electron from the surface of the metal. However, the phenomena of diffraction and interference of light can only be explained by assuming that light behaves like waves. In 1924, de Broglie postulated that the same dual character existed with electrons - sometimes they are considered as particles, and at other times it is more convenient to consider them as waves.
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Experimental evidence for the wave nature of electrons was obtained when diffraction rings were observed photographically when a stream of elec;trons was passed through a thin metal foil. Electron diffraction has now become a useful tool in determining molecular structure, particularly of gases. Wave mechanics is a means of studying the build-up of electron shells in atoms, and the shape of orbitals occupied by the electrons.