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4 Probability Density

The document discusses the physical significance of the wavefunction ψ in quantum mechanics. It explains that ψ represents the probability of finding an electron at a given position, and gives examples of ψ plots for the 1s, 2s, and 3s orbitals of the hydrogen atom. It also discusses the concepts of radial and angular nodes in orbitals and how they relate to the number of nodes in an orbital.

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16 views8 pages

4 Probability Density

The document discusses the physical significance of the wavefunction ψ in quantum mechanics. It explains that ψ represents the probability of finding an electron at a given position, and gives examples of ψ plots for the 1s, 2s, and 3s orbitals of the hydrogen atom. It also discusses the concepts of radial and angular nodes in orbitals and how they relate to the number of nodes in an orbital.

Uploaded by

resodforto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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5.

01x Lecture Summary #8

THE PHYSICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ψ

probability of finding e– per unit volume at r, θ, φ


Max Born

Probability density plot where density of dots represent the probability density…

2 2 2
Ψ100 Ψ200 Ψ300

r=2 a0 r=1.9 a0 r=7.1 a0

8.1
has a positive value everywhere

exponential decay

8.2
When r=2ao, this factor is zero, making
Ψ200 = 0.
Positive value at r < 2ao
Negative value at r > 2ao

RADIAL NODE: value of r for which ψ = 0 (or ψ2 = 0)


In general: an orbital or wave has n – 1 –  RADIAL nodes

SO 1s orbital has 0 radial nodes


2s orbital has 1 radial node
8.3
�3-2r/a0 +2r2 /9a20 �e-r/3a0

Quadratic!
two roots: two values of r that make this
factor, hence ψ300 = 0
positive value r < 1.9a0
r < 7.1a0
negative value 1.9a0 < r < 7.1a0

RADIAL NODE: value of r for which ψ = 0 (or ψ2 = 0)


In general: an orbital or wave has n – 1 –  RADIAL nodes
3s orbital has 2 radial nodes

8.4
RADIAL PROBABILITY

probability of finding an e– in a spherical


shell of thickness dr at a distance r from
origin.
r2R2ndr (note: unitless)
for all wavefunctions

Radial Probability = dr (for s orbitals only)

= dr (for s orbitals only) (note unitless)

for s wavefunctions only, because

so, Radial Probability =

RPD = Radial Probability Distribution = (for all orbitals) (note units of m-1)

Most probable value of r is

rmp = ao = = 0.529 × 10–10 m = 0.529Å a0 ≡ BOHR radius

Electron does not plummet into nucleus as CM predicts!

8.5
Bohr: 1st person to bring idea of quantization to H atom pre-quantum mechanics - 1911.
He predicted that e– had precise circular orbits — planetary model — for H atom.
r = ao = 0.529Å

But, e– does not have well-defined orbit. Most known is probability of finding e– at some
r. Knowing only probability is one of main consequences of Quantum Mechanics. Unlike
CM, QM is non-deterministic. Uncertainty principle forbids us from knowing r exactly.
1926
HEISENBERG UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE

∆x ≡ uncertainty in position
∆p ≡ uncertainty in momentum
equivalent to ∆λ because λ=h/p

Where ∆x is small, but to achieve it, we needed large ∆λ, or equivalently large ∆p

8.6
ψ200 or 2s ψ300 or 3s

for 1st excited state, e– more likely to be for 2nd excited state, e– more likely to
found farther from nucleus, 5.2 times be 13.7 times farther
farther

P ORBITALS
not spherically symmetric — have θ,φ dependence look at probability density plots only

𝟐𝟐
𝚿𝚿𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟏𝟏 𝟐𝟐
𝚿𝚿𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐−𝟏𝟏

px py

HIGHEST Along z axis Along x axis Along y axis


PROB

POSITIVE where z is positive where x is positive where y is positive


ψ

NODAL xy plane yz plane xz plane


PLANE θ = 90° φ = 90° φ = 0°

8.7
p orbitals have nodal planes (planes that have no electron density) because of angular
nodes in wavefunction.

Angular nodes: values of θ and φ that make ψ = 0.

In general: an orbital has


n–1 total nodes
 angular nodes
n – 1 –  radial nodes
RADIAL PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS

For a given n, orbital “size” decreases as  increases!


But only e–s in s states have a finite probability of being very very close to nucleus.
Radial part of wave function has important consequences for properties of atoms.

8.8

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