members of the family of hydrogen atom electron waves with one angular wavelengths (and so one nodal plane

gh the nucleus) are call p orbitals. There are three different kinds p orbitals, differing by the axis along which the
bbell shape is aligned. The three different kinds of p orbitals are called px , p y , and pz . The lowest energy members, the
Hydrogen atom electron waves summary
2p orbitals, each have one radial loop (moving out from the nucleus), the second lowest energy members, 3p, each CH101
ntwo
waveradial
(wave function). The
loops, etc. nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the width and height
onal to the probability density.
Hydrogen atom family album, CH101 General Chemistry, Fall 2013, Boston University
bility
n wavedensity Energy
(waveinfunction).
the xy plane
Theof the 3pxishydrogen
nucleus atom𝑙=0
Probability
at the center. left density
electron
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(wave
right, thewidth
xy plane
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Thethenucleus
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electron
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From left to (wave function).
right, the Theheight
width and 𝑙=2
nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the widt
onal
1, to 6,
1, 3, theand
probability
9 nm. The
013, Boston University
brightness of the display isare
density. Cloverleaf (d) family
0.1, 1, 3, 6,
proportional to and 9 nm. The brightness
the probability density. of the display is proportional to the probability density.
2

The members of the family of hydrogen atom electron waves with two angular wavelengths (and so two nodal pla
through the nucleus) are called d orbitals. There are five different kinds of d orbitals, differing by the orientation o
on waves with 𝑛 =zero 4 angular wavelengthscloverleaf shape. The five different kinds of d orbitals are called dz2 , d yz , dzx , dxy , and dx2 y2 . The lowest energy m
(and with spherical symmetry)
as one radial loop (moving out from thethe five 3d,the
nucleus), each have lowest
second one radial loop (moving out from the nucleus), the second lowest energy members, 4d, each
bility
n wave density
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the xy plane
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at the center. electron wave (wave function). The nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the width and height
two left to
radial right,
loops, theetc.
width and height
1, 1, 3,
onal to 6,
theand 9 nm. The
probability brightness of the display is proportional to the probability density.
density.

en atom family album, CH101 General Chemistry, Fall 2013, Boston University 3
bility
n wavedensity
(waveinfunction).
the xy plane
Theof the 4pxishydrogen
nucleus Probability
atom
at the center. left density
electron
From wave
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(wave
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xy plane
function). of
Thethenucleus
and height 4dxy hydrogen
is at the atom electron
center. wave
From left to (wave function).
right, the Theheight
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onal
1, to 6,
1, 3, theand
probability
9 nm. Thedensity.
brightness of the display isare 0.1, 1, 3, 6,
proportional to and 9 nm. The brightness
the probability density. of the display is proportional to the probability density.
Dumbbell (p) family
𝑛=3
members of the family of hydrogen atom electron waves with one angular wavelengths (and so one nodal plane
gh the nucleus) are call p orbitals. There are three different kinds p orbitals, differing by the axis along which the
bell shape is aligned. The three different kinds of p orbitals are called px , p y , and pz . The lowest energy members, the
2p orbitals, each have one radial loop (moving out from the nucleus), the second lowest energy members, 3p, each
bility
n wavedensity
(waveinfunction).
the xy plane
Theof the 3pxishydrogen
nucleus Probability
atom
at the center. left density
electron
From wave
to inthe
(wave
right, thewidth
xy plane
function). of
Thethenucleus
and height 3dxy hydrogen
is at theatom electron
center. wave
From left to (wave function).
right, the Theheight
width and nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the widt
two
1, 1, 3,
onal
radial
to 6,
theand
loops,
9 nm. The
probability
etc.
brightness of the display isare
density. 0.1, 1, 3, 6,
proportional to and 9 nm. The brightness
the probability density. of the display is proportional to the probability density.

𝑛=2

012 Dan Dill (dan@bu.edu). All rights reserved

bility
nility
wave density
density
(wave infunction).
in the xy
the xy plane
plane of
Theof the 2p
the
nucleus4pxxishydrogen
hydrogen atom
atom
at the center. electron
Probability
electron
From wave
left density
wave
to (wave
inthe
(wave
right, function).
thewidth
xy plane
function). The
of
and The nucleus
the is at
at the
4dxy hydrogen
nucleus
height is theatom
center. From left
electron
center. From left
wave to right,
to right, the
(wave the width and
function).
width and height
Theheight
nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the widt
onal
1,
, 1, to6,
1, 3,
3, the
6, probability
and
and 99 nm. density.
nm. The
The brightness of
brightness of the
the display
display is
isare
proportional
proportional to the
0.1, 1, 3, to
6, Atomic Electron Waves
the probability
and probability density. of the display is proportional to the probability density.
9 nm. The density.
brightness

The principal quantum number (𝑛) is related to the energy of the
wave and is the total number of “loops” (radial loops and nodal
planes).
Copyright © 2012 Dan Dill (dan@bu.edu). All rights reserved

The azimuthal (or angular) quantum number (𝑙) is the number of

nodal planes in the electron wave, and it determines the shape of
the electron wave.
nility
wavedensity
(wavein function).
the xy plane
Theofnucleus
the 3pxishydrogen atom From
at the center. electron
left wave (wave
to right, and The
function).
the width height nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the width and height
onal to6,
, 1, 3, the probability
and 9 nm. The density.
brightness of the display is proportional to the probability density.
The magnetic quantum number (𝑚! , not depicted) determines the
013, Boston University spatial orientation of the electron wave. For a given electron wave,
2

there are 2𝑙 + 1 possible values of 𝑚! .

012 Dan Dill (dan@bu.edu). All rights reserved
The energy of an electron wave with the principal quantum
ron waves with zero angular wavelengths (and with spherical symmetry) Copyright © 2012 Dan Dill (dan@bu.edu). All rights reserved
number, 𝑛, and effective nuclear charge, 𝑍 "## , is:
has one radial loop (moving out from the nucleus), the second lowest
%
𝐸$ = −(2.18 aJ)𝑍"## /𝑛%
nility
wave (wave
density in function). Theofnucleus
the xy plane the 4pxishydrogen
at the center.
atom From left wave
electron to right, the width
(wave
height
and The
function). nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the width and height
onal to6,
, 1, 3, the probability
and 9 nm. The density. and has a radius of: 𝑟 = (52.9 pm)𝑛% /𝑍"## .
brightness of the display is proportional to the probability density.

Copyright © 2012 Dan Dill (dan@bu.edu).The ionization energy, 𝐼, is the energy needed to transform the
𝑛=1
All rights reserved
electron wave to a wave with 𝑛 = ∞:

%
𝐼 = 𝐸& − 𝐸' = 𝐸( − 𝐸$ = +(2.18 aJ)𝑍"## /𝑛%

n wave (wave function). The nucleus is at the center. From left to right, the width and height
onal to the probability density.