## Nodal Planes

$H_{\psi }=E_{\psi }$

1-D: $E_{TOTAL}\psi (x)=E_{k}\psi (x)+V(x)\psi(x)=-\frac{h^{2}}{8\pi ^{2}m}\frac{d^{2}\psi(x)}{dx^{2}}+V(x)\psi(x)$

Olivia Young 1A
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:24 am

### Nodal Planes

I believe I remember Dr. Lavelle saying that the 'd' atomic orbital has two nodal planes, but the mention of the cone-shaped nodal plane confused me. Is the cone nodal plane in the d-orbital considered one of the two basic nodal planes or is it a separate, third nodal plane in the d-orbitals? Also, I wasn't sure completely sure of what nodal planes represent or their function in atomic orbitals. Any help would be appreciated!

Rachana Jayaraman 1H
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:26 am

### Re: Nodal Planes

Nodal planes are planes in which the probability of finding an electron is zero. These planes usually occur along the axes where the nodes almost intersect. As for the cone-shaped nodal plane, he was discussing the 3dz^2 orbital. There are two cone-shaped planes, thus 2 nodal planes for the orbital. The shape is because of the unique probability distribution; it is not a third plane.
Here is a picture that can help you better visualize it.

Camille Marangi 2E
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:26 am

### Re: Nodal Planes

I believe the cone-shaped nodal plane are both the planes in the d-orbital. These cone-shaped planes only occur in one orbital of the 'd' type, where there are 5 in total.The specific orbital that it occurs in is the 3dz^2. All the rest have regular planes (square-shape as we previously have seen). I've attached an image to hopefully provide more clarity. Hope I've helped!

https://files.mtstatic.com/site_4334/27 ... 4GI7A555NA