radial distribution function

[Kylie McCauley 1D]

Hi,

What should we know about the radial distribution function for the purposes of this class? I'm currently reading about it in section 1D.4 : The shapes of orbitals.

[Lisa Seidl 3H]

I don't think we need to know that equation since he did not go over it in lectures and it isn't on the formula sheet or in the Quantum World outline. From 1D.4 I would just focus on the shapes of the different types of subshells and how many nodal planes they have and you should be fine.

[isha dis3d]

The radial distribution function is the probability distribution to find the center of a particle in a given position at a radial distance r from the center of a reference sphere. I just think the most important part of this concept it knowing that orbitals and wavefunctions are what give us the probability of finding an election in a certain area to the center.