## Wave functions

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

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

Timmy Nguyen Dis 1I
Posts: 107
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:17 am

### Wave functions

Hey just asking what the wave functions represent exactly, and will we have to know actual numeric values for the functions?

Sjeffrey_1C
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Wave functions

A wave function I believe gives you specific info regarding the wave's properties.

Tiffany_Chen 2K
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Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: Wave functions

Timmy Nguyen Dis 3F wrote:Hey just asking what the wave functions represent exactly, and will we have to know actual numeric values for the functions?

They represent a mathematical probability of finding electrons. Just know that the (wave function)^2 gives you a positive graph, with peaks being places with high electron density, and the zeros being low electron density.

Alexandra Bartolome 2H
Posts: 102
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Wave functions

Wave functions represent the probability of finding the position of an electron in an atom. They are used to describe an electron, which has wavelike properties and indeterminate momentum/position, in an atom.

chari_maya 3B
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### Re: Wave functions

what is the relationship between wave functions and orbital shapes?

Timmy Nguyen Dis 1I
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Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Wave functions

Alexandra Bartolome 4D wrote:Wave functions represent the probability of finding the position of an electron in an atom. They are used to describe an electron, which has wavelike properties and indeterminate momentum/position, in an atom.

Ah ok. What happens if they're negative, though?

PriscillaLi_3G
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Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:30 am

### Re: Wave functions

So is the wave function related to the quantum numbers n, l, and ml?

Sartaj Bal 1J
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Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: Wave functions

To express the wave function in three dimensions, the three quantum numbers (n, m, and ml) need to be used. This is known as the atomic orbital, or the region of space where the electron is located.

Rebekah Alfred 1J
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### Re: Wave functions

Sartaj Bal 3H wrote:To express the wave function in three dimensions, the three quantum numbers (n, m, and ml) need to be used. This is known as the atomic orbital, or the region of space where the electron is located.
These atomic orbitals are mathematical functions that describe the behavior of the electrons.

Noah Canio 3C
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Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:20 am

### Re: Wave functions

Wave functions represent the mathematical likelihoods of finding an electron in an atom. The orbital shapes, like the s or p, can be described as "solutions" to those mathematical functions (wave functions).