Do all orbitals (s,p,d,f........) exists in an atom at the same time?
What is radial dependance and how it affects the orbital?
2006-07-06 02:05:49 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
I disagree with the other posters here:
I think the answer depends on
1. How many electrons are in your atom
2. How much energy the atom has available to it.
Remember that an orbital is really just a statistical description of the probability of finding an electron relative to a nucleus. It is not a "pocket" that electrons go to. An orbital in and of itself does not exist independent of the electron. It’s not a "boundary" condition, but a result of the energy level of the atom.
An orbital can be calculated, but its shape and position are defined by the electron in an atom. Obtials can not be directly observed, only inferred.
A better question to ask is: Are all orbital energy levels available to an atom's electrons simultaneously given the proper energy?
The answer to that question is yes.
2006-07-07 15:41:13 · answer #1 · answered by DrSean 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
All of the orbitals, plus those that go beyond f, are present in atoms. However, they are not always populated. The orbitals represent difference quantum states of electronic energy, with s being the lowest in energy, p the next lowest, etc. An atom will tend to have its electrons in the lowest energy state possible, but absorbtion of a photon at the proper frequency can excite the atom and move an electron to a higher energy quantum state.
The radial dependence is simply the average location of the electrom from the nucleus as electrons are simply not just in a circular orbit about the nucleus. The lower the energy state, the closer the average distance will be to the nucleus.
Hope that helps.
2006-07-06 02:16:02 · answer #2 · answered by Ѕємι~Мαđ ŠçїєŋŧιѕТ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on how many electrons are in the atom. I believe if you go to the periodic table and look at one of the last elements, you'll find one with all the orbitals filled with electrons.
2006-07-06 02:17:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keillan is right. All orbitals exist at the same time.
Jack Mehoff is WRONG.
2006-07-06 02:41:21 · answer #4 · answered by K N Swamy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all are there they're not full
the radial distance makes it easy to give/take electrons
2006-07-06 03:56:23 · answer #5 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋