Chapter 3, Problem 3.1YT

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The dotted lines that would represent the nodal planes for the ${\text{p}}_{\text{x}}$ and ${\text{p}}_{\text{y}}$ orbitals in Figure 3-3 are to be drawn. For the ${\text{p}}_{\text{z}}$ orbital, whether the nodal plane is parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the page is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

Each of the three p orbitals consists of two spherical lobes. Depending on the particular orbital, the two lobes are oriented along a particular axis, with the nucleus at the center, the origin of the coordinate system. One of the lobes, conventionally the one along positive axis direction, has a positive phase while the other has a negative phase. At the center, the electron density goes to zero. A plane perpendicular to this axis, passing through the origin is then called the nodal plane of that p orbital.