Nodal Planes- what are they exactly? [ENDORSED]

[sylvie_1D]

Hi, throughout this past weeks lecture, the term "nodal plane" was used very frequently to describe the shape and configuration of orbitals, though I am uncertain as to what they are.

[Isabel Jabara 1C]

A nodal plane is a plane where the probability of finding an electron is zero.

[Hannah Lee 1B]

Nodal planes are where you won't find any electrons.

Radial nodal planes are spheres that occur as N increases (between s shells, # angular planes = N-L-1)
Angular nodal planes are flat and occur within orbitals (# angular planes = L)

[Sarai Ventura 1L]

A nodal plane is a plane with the probability of finding a electron is zero. The 2s orbital has a nodal shell, whereas the 2pz orbital or 2p orbitals have a nodal plane.

[Aryana Nazem 1A]

But why can't you find an electron in these planes?

[Chem_Mod]

It's a result of the solution to the Schrodinger equation.

[Aryana Nazem 1A]

Okay, but for the midterm will we just have to know conceptually what this equation does or will be have to actually use it?