What is an example of an electron orbital practice problem?

1 Answer
Mar 3, 2016

I think you meant atomic orbital. Electrons aren't a class of orbitals, and there is no such thing as an orbital belonging to an electron.

  1. Determine the number of orbitals in a theoretical subshell in which #l = 5#. (Hint: it corresponds to #m_l = 0, 1, . . . , pml#) What letter might correspond to this orbital subshell? Recall that the orbital lettering goes alphabetically after #f#.
  2. Look up a radial distribution graph of the #2s# atomic orbital, and determine how many #a_0# from the center of the orbital can you never find an electron, ever (except for #r = 0# and #r -> oo#).
  3. How many nodes does a #3d# orbital have? Show that it is #2#. What is the relationship between the #n# and the total number of nodes in general? Which are angular and which are radial nodes? Recall that the number of radial nodes is #n - l - 1#.

Answers:

  1. #color(white)("h, because it goes s, p, d, f, g, h where "l = 5.#
    #color(white)("There are 2*5+1 = 11 orbitals in this subshell.")#
  2. #color(white)("2a"_0)#
  3. #color(white)(n - 1 "tells you how many total nodes there")#
    #color(white)("are in general, so there are no radial nodes"#
    #color(white)("because " n - l - 1 = 0. "So we know that"#
    #color(white)(n - 1 = 2.)#