2.13 Homework Question [ENDORSED]

[Nhi Vo 3A]

2.13 Describe the orientation of the lobes of the px, py, and pz orbitals with respect to the cartesian axes.

[Molly_McMillen_3J]

I think this question is just kind of deceiving because of how simple the answer is, the x,y,z labels on the p are specifically for the purpose of being able to refer to which axes the lobe lies on, therefore the orientation is simply the direction of which axis (x-axis, y-axis, or z-axis) each lobe, (px,py, pz) lies on.

[Jaime_Chamberlain_3G]

I think that the p-orbital lobes are the shape of a 3D infinity sign where the lines of the px- lie on the x-axis, the py- lies on the y-axis, and the pz- lies on the z-axis.

[Nhi Vo 3A]

Thank you!