X Y and Z

[Michelle Chan 1J]

I kind of have an idea of this, but can someone clarify how to determine the if an e- is in the X Y or Z plane? Thanks!

[SnehinRajkumar1L]

It depends on which energy level the electron is in as well as the convention the problem uses when listing l values. The plane will correspond to the appropriate electron plane. I recommend watching the corresponding module for this lecture as he shows an example where he does just this.

[Astrid Lunde 1I]

I think this is related to the model that was shown during the lecture today. Depending on the number we can use the table to find out if it is x, y, or z.

[Qiu Ya Wu 4I]

In his lecture today, Lavelle emphasized that the plane the electron is found in is arbitrary and different textbooks associate different l values with different x,y, and z planes.

[sarahsalama2E]

Depending on the particular orientation, then it will be in the x, y or z plane. This is contingent upon the ml number we find when solving for the quantum numbers.

[Mariah]

In his lecture today, Lavelle emphasized that the plane the electron is found in is arbitrary and different textbooks associate different l values with different x,y, and z planes.

So, because he said this we can assign the x,y,z variables to the values we have correct? That confused me as well.

[Astrid Lunde 1I]

In his lecture today, Lavelle emphasized that the plane the electron is found in is arbitrary and different textbooks associate different l values with different x,y, and z planes.

So, because he said this we can assign the x,y,z variables to the values we have correct? That confused me as well.

I believe he is referring to the model he used in class to assign the electron a x,y,or z variable

[Angela Patel 2J]

There is no convention for which magnetic quantum number is associated with which plane for orbitals. Because of this, either the values will be randomly assigned to a specific orbital (given by the problem/textbook/etc) or we will just have to write all of the possible options and accept that it is unknown which is which.