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According to de Broglie, why are only certain electron orbits allowed in an atom?
AElectrons are physically too large to fit into smaller orbits
BOnly orbits with an even number of electrons are permitted
CGravity restricts electrons to specific distances from the nucleus
DThe electron's wavelength must fit the orbit's circumference
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The electron's wavelength must fit the orbit's circumference
1. De Broglie proposed that matter, including electrons, has wave properties.
2. An electron's orbit is allowed only if its wavelength fits the orbit's circumference so the wave interferes constructively with itself.
3. Orbits where the wavelength does not fit produce destructive interference and cannot exist.
4. Electron size, electron count parity, and gravity are not the described reasons for quantized orbits.
5. So constructive interference of the electron's own wave is correct.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "The Atom", section 22.1 The Structure of the Atom_
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