Atomic and molecular orbitals Flashcards
What does the wavefunction squared tell us
the probability of finding an electron
what is an electron density plot
where you draw dots for the shape of the orbital to represent the electrons
what is a boundary surface representation
it is the outline of the electron density plot it enclosed around 95% of the probability of finding an electron
what does the 2 s orbital look like
spherically symmetrical, nucleus at centre, no nodal plane in surface boundary but spherical node
what does the 3s orbital look like
spherically symmetrical, nucleus at centre of sphere, no planar node, 2 spherical nodes
what does a 2p orbital look like
3 identical p orbitals, nodal plane through nuclei, different coloured nodes are different amplitudes of the wavefunction
what does a 3d orbital look like
two nodal planes that intersect at the nuclei except for dz^2 which is 2 nodal cones
what form do orbitals have
ψ=R(r).A(θ,ⱷ)
What does R(r) refer to
the radial wavefunction, how wavefunction varies with distance from nucleus
what does A(θ,ⱷ) refer to
the spherical harmonic, how the wavefunction varies with angle around the nucleus
what are the features of the R(r) and r graphs
when the radial wavefunction hits 0 it is a radial node
an s orbital has a non 0 amplitude at the nucleus, all others are 0 at the nucleus
all orbitals go to 0 at large distances from the nucleus (r)
what does the shading of an orbital mean
relative sign of the wavefunction (its phase) and is important for bond formation
whats an s orbital phase like
spherically symmetrical
boundary surface consistent phase
the phase diagram is like a squared exponential
whats a p orbital phase like
one phase for each lobe
looks like a sin graph with the ends trailing off
what is the quantum number n
principle quantum number, all orbitals with the same value of n belong to the same shell, integer
what is the quantum number l
angular momentum quantum number, same subshell, l determines shape l=0,1…n-1
what is the quantum number ml
magnetic quantum number, individual orbitals, orbital orientation (z is 0)
l,l-1,l-2,0….-l
how does phase bonding work
if the orbital has the same phase, it is a wave, so there is constructive interference which enhances electron density, but if they have different phases, there is destructive interference which means there is 0 probability of the electrons existing there
what happens when atomic orbitals with different phases interact
forms an antibonding mo
forms a nodal plane
has a higher energy level than a bonding orbital due to being destabilised
what happens when atomic orbitals with the same phase interact
lower in E than separate AOs
constructive interference
build up of electron density between the nuclei of the two atoms
what is the aufbau principle
lowest available mo first