ERIC Number: EJ1011399
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Jan
Pages: 3
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Interactive Web-Based Pointillist Visualization of Hydrogenic Orbitals Using Jmol
Tully, Shane P.; Stitt, Thomas M.; Caldwell, Robert D.; Hardock, Brian J.; Hanson, Robert M.; Maslak, Przemyslaw
Journal of Chemical Education, v90 n1 p129-131 Jan 2013
A Monte Carlo method is used to generate interactive pointillist displays of electron density in hydrogenic orbitals. The Web applet incorporating Jmol viewer allows for clear and accurate presentation of three-dimensional shapes and sizes of orbitals up to "n" = 5, where "n" is the principle quantum number. The obtained radial probability distributions can be compared with theoretical curves on two-dimensional plots. The applet also produces orbital cross sections and contour plots and their three-dimensional isometric projections, illustrating the standing-wave nature of the orbitals. The classical boundary surfaces with various predetermine cutoffs may also be displayed for size comparisons. Nodal surfaces are available for all displays. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Visual Aids, Monte Carlo Methods, Interactive Video, Computer Uses in Education, Chemistry, Nuclear Physics, Internet, College Science, Science Instruction, Molecular Structure
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