QuestionAtomic structure / wave functions
Which one of the following statements regarding hydrogen atom and other one electron species is correct ?
- (a) For H-atom, s orbital is dependent on the radial wave function (r) only and independent of the angular wave function (θ and ϕ).
- (b) For H-atom, s orbital is dependent on both the radial wave function (r) and the angular wave function (θ and ϕ).
- (c) For H-atom, there is no such dependence observed for s orbital; rather, the dependence starts with involvement of p orbital.
- (d) For H-atom, s orbital is dependent on the angular wave function (θ and ϕ) only and independent of the radial wave function (r).
Answer: (a) For H-atom, s orbital is dependent on the radial wave function (r) only and independent of the angular wave function (θ and ϕ).
ψ = R(r)·Y(θ,ϕ). For l = 0, Y₀₀ = 1/√(4π), a constant. So an s orbital depends on r only; it is spherically symmetric. Angular dependence appears from p orbitals (l = 1) onwards. → (a)