gchem question... help!

[skim1988]

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how many nodes does a 2p orbital have?

i thought it was 3 (px, pz, py) but the answer says 1.

 

[Dew517]

*Going to get my textbook to look this up actually

 

[fujindesu]

the nodes of Px Py Pz all coincide at a point. so 1 node.

 

[skim1988]

the nodes of Px Py Pz all coincide at a point. so 1 node.

ah hah! makes sense

 

[Demps]

I never understand this either, but I just memorized that node number is always n-1. Think Chad said something like this too.

so you got n = 2, so 1 node

 

[skim1988]

I never understand this either, but I just memorized that node number is always n-1. Think Chad said something like this too.

so you got n = 2, so 1 node

isnt l (azimuthal number)= n-1? or is node just another way of saying azimuthal number?

 

[rmm30]

isnt l (azimuthal number)= n-1? or is node just another way of saying azimuthal number?

Definitely not. Nodes describe points in the orbital where the probability of finding an electron is 0. s orbitals have 0 nodes. p orbitals have 1. d orbitals have 2. Remember those few facts and that will be all you have to know about nodes (if you even have to remember that; I haven't seen any questions about nodes in practice stuff. Was this question from Kaplan or Topscore?)

 

[rmm30]

isnt l (azimuthal number)= n-1? or is node just another way of saying azimuthal number?

You probably need a quick refresher on quantum #s. Chad and Kaplan BB are pretty strong in this area but for starters....

n = principle quantum number = shell
l = azimuthal number = subshell
ml = magnetic number = orbital
ms = spin # (i.e. orientation of electron in orbital)

The n-1 you are thinking of is the RANGE of values that l can take on (including 0). For example if n = 3. l can = 0, 1, 2

Big Big difference. Like I was saying though go through this stuff and know it well bc quantum number questions come up frequently and they're softball questions as long as you have it straight in your head.