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CHEM 121 Studioby Learn4Less · UBC CHEM 121

CHEM 121 glossary

p orbital

An orbital with l=1l = 1: two lobes on opposite sides of the nucleus, separated by a nodal plane. Every shell from n=2n = 2 has three, pxp_x, pyp_y and pzp_z, one for each ml=−1,0,+1m_l = -1, 0, +1.

The three p orbitalsEach p orbital has two lobes of opposite phase on either side of the nucleus, with a nodal plane through the nucleus between them. px, py and pz point along the x, y and z axes.pxpypztwo lobes of opposite phase (+ blue, − orange)nodal plane through the nucleus

pxp_x, pyp_y and pzp_z, each with a nodal plane through the nucleus.

Example

2p has 1 angular node and no radial node; 3p has 1 angular and 1 radial node. The two lobes have opposite signs of ψ\psi, which matters for π bonding.

See alsos orbitald orbitalAngular nodeπ bond (pi bond)