The Bohr model for sodium is a representation of the atomic structure of sodium, based on the Bohr model proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913. This model describes the arrangement of electrons in discrete orbits around the nucleus, similar to the way planets orbit the sun.
In the case of sodium (Na), which has an atomic number of 11, the Bohr model shows the following electron configuration:
- First energy level (n=1): 2 electrons
- Second energy level (n=2): 8 electrons
- Third energy level (n=3): 1 electron
This configuration can be written as 2-8-1. The outermost electron in the third energy level is the valence electron, which is responsible for sodium’s chemical properties and reactivity.
The Bohr model helps us understand how sodium can easily lose its single valence electron to form a positively charged ion (Na⁺), which is a key aspect of its behavior in chemical reactions, especially in the formation of salts like sodium chloride (NaCl).