- #1
kuecken
- 17
- 0
Why does the quantum defect depend only weakly on the principal quantum number n?
The dependence on l is strong. Because this will change the probability distribution of the electron to be closer to the nucleus and thus the shielding of the other electrons a lot.
A change in n, however, will not change the angular wavefunction, it will only change the radial one. Is it because the change in radial wavefunction is not very big between different n? If we change from an s orbital of n=4 to one of n=3, the probability density to be at the nucleus is nonzero in both cases.
Any better ideas would be great.
Thank you
The dependence on l is strong. Because this will change the probability distribution of the electron to be closer to the nucleus and thus the shielding of the other electrons a lot.
A change in n, however, will not change the angular wavefunction, it will only change the radial one. Is it because the change in radial wavefunction is not very big between different n? If we change from an s orbital of n=4 to one of n=3, the probability density to be at the nucleus is nonzero in both cases.
Any better ideas would be great.
Thank you