According to Bohr's atomic model, which statement best describes the behavior of electrons in a hydrogen atom?

• A. Electrons are embedded within a positively charged sphere.
• B. Electrons lose energy continuously as they orbit the nucleus.
• C. Electrons move in fixed circular orbits around the nucleus with quantized energies.
• D. Electrons can occupy any energy level and move randomly around the nucleus.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that Bohr's atomic model was developed to explain the discrete spectral lines of hydrogen, which classical physics could not explain.
2. Understand that in Bohr's model, electrons do not move randomly or lose energy continuously; instead, they occupy specific, fixed circular orbits around the nucleus.
3. Recognize that each orbit corresponds to a quantized energy level, meaning electrons can only have certain allowed energies and cannot exist between these levels.
4. Note that electrons can jump between these fixed orbits by absorbing or emitting energy equal to the difference between the energy levels, which explains the observed spectral lines.
5. Therefore, the best description according to Bohr's model is that electrons move in fixed circular orbits around the nucleus with quantized energies.