Question

here is a sketch of the radial probability distribution of three orbitals:
probability
distance from nucleus (pm)
use this sketch to answer the following question.
what is the most likely distance from the nucleus for
an electron in orbital c?
note: your answer must be within 50 pm of the exact
answer to be graded correct.
your answer
pm

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the number of nodes

The number of nodes (\(n - l- 1\)) in a radial probability distribution curve. For \(s\) orbital \(l = 0\), for \(p\) orbital \(l=1\), for \(d\) orbital \(l = 2\). The number of maxima (peaks) in the radial probability distribution curve is \(n - l\).

Step2: Determine the orbital type for curve C

Curve C has one peak. If we assume it is an \(s\) orbital (\(l = 0\)), then using the formula for the number of maxima \(n - l\). Since the number of maxima is \(1\), if \(l = 0\), then \(n=1\). The most probable distance for \(1s\) orbital (from Bohr's theory \(r=a_0n^{2}/Z\), for \(H - like\) atom with \(Z = 1\) and \(n = 1\), \(a_0=53\ pm\))

Answer:

53 pm