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ERIC Number: EJ1202202
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jan
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Graphical Representation of Hydrogenic Orbitals: Incorporating Both Radial and Angular Parts of the Wave Function
Manae, Meghna A.; Hazra, Anirban
Journal of Chemical Education, v96 n1 p187-190 Jan 2019
There exist several two- and three-dimensional graphical representations of hydrogen-like orbitals. Despite this, connecting the mathematical form of the atomic orbital, a function of both radial and angular variables, to its actual shape is often challenging for students. Here, we present a new graphical representation using bubble plots to show the combined contribution of the radial and angular parts of the wave function to its shape. This representation can be demonstrated on the blackboard, as well as easily plotted by students. Additionally, it is one step away from contour plots of orbitals, which are commonly used in their depiction.
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A