## Nodal planes

jordanginyard_
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:43 pm

### Nodal planes

What are nodal planes and how do they relate to quantum numbers. Are they any videos I can watch that relates to what the teachers want us to understand from this topic.

Ryan_Page_1J
Posts: 65
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:03 pm
Been upvoted: 1 time

### Re: Nodal planes

A nodal plane is a region where the probability of finding an electron is 0.

Jerry_T
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:46 pm

### Re: Nodal planes

A nodal plane is where the probability of finding an electron is 0 (i.e. no electrons can exist in the nodal plane). The s orbital has no nodal planes due to its spherical nature.

manisha_joseph_1H
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:01 pm

### Re: Nodal planes

A nodal place is where the probability of finding an electron is 0. For instance, s orbitals have no nodal planes, which therefore leads to a symmetric electron density distribution. However, any orbital beyond this (such as p, d, or f) all have nodal planes, which leads to a non-symmetric electron distribution.

Christine Ma 3L
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:35 pm

### Re: Nodal planes

To add on, the number of nodal planes, for the most part, should be equal to the angular momentum quantum number $l$.
So when l=0, there are no nodal planes, l=1 has 1 nodal plane, etc. Hope this helps!

Keerthana Sundar 1K
Posts: 66
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:52 pm

### Re: Nodal planes

In terms of the diagrams of the various orbitals, is the nodal plane simply the area which is not bounded by the orbital drawings? Or is there something more? Will we be expected to point out where nodal planes are for various orbitals? Thanks!