November 25, 2024, 06:20:47 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: nodal surfaces  (Read 12043 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jennielynn_1980

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 167
  • Mole Snacks: +8/-4
  • Gender: Female
nodal surfaces
« on: July 25, 2006, 07:05:03 PM »
How many nodal surfaces are there for
a) 2s orbital
b) 3px orbital

My answer:
a) 0 because it a spherically shape with no nodes or points passing through the nucleus
b) 1 because it has 1 node where it passes through the nucleus

I really have no idea if this is correct.  I dont' think I really understand this concept that well.  If anyone has a link explaining it somewhat simplistically that would be great.
Thanks :)


Offline Mitch

  • General Chemist
  • Administrator
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5298
  • Mole Snacks: +376/-3
  • Gender: Male
  • "I bring you peace." -Mr. Burns
    • Chemistry Blog
Re: nodal surfaces
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2006, 07:09:28 PM »
The 1s orbital has 0 nodes. But, the 2s orbital will have 1 node. View this site. http://winter.group.shef.ac.uk/orbitron/
Most Common Suggestions I Make on the Forums.
1. Start by writing a balanced chemical equation.
2. Don't confuse thermodynamic stability with chemical reactivity.
3. Forum Supports LaTex

Offline Yggdrasil

  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3215
  • Mole Snacks: +485/-21
  • Gender: Male
  • Physical Biochemist
Re: nodal surfaces
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2006, 02:25:27 AM »
As Mitch alluded to, there are two types of nodes, radial nodes and angular nodes.  The number of radial nodes depends on n, the principal quantum number.  There are n-1 radial nodes.  The number of angular nodes depends on l, the angular quantum number.  There are l angular nodes (i.e. s orbitals have 0 angular nodes, p orbitals have 1, d orbitals have two, f orbitals have 3, etc).

Sponsored Links