Shapes of s, p, d orbitals
Atomic Structure · Chemistry
Study notes
Sketch reasoning: how many nodes does a 3d orbital have, and of which type? Step 1: Total nodes = n − 1 = 3 − 1 = 2. Step 2: Angular nodes = l = 2 (d). Step 3: Radial nodes = n − l − 1 = 3 − 2 − 1 = 0. Step 4: So 3d has 2 angular (planar) nodes, no spherical node. Nodes are surfaces where electron probability is zero.
Related topics
- Dalton's atomic theory and its limitations
- Subatomic particles: discovery of electron, proton, neutron
- Atomic models: Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr
- Bohr model: energy levels, radius, hydrogen spectrum
- Rydberg formula and spectral series (Lyman, Balmer, Paschen, Brackett, Pfund)
- Wave–particle duality and de Broglie wavelength