# Homework Help: Finding the electron increases if we go towards the nucleus?

1. Jan 18, 2006

### photon79

Is it true that the probability of finding the electron (s-electron) increases if we go towards the nucleus? then what accounts for its stability from not being attracted by the nucleus n collapsing into it..its a basic question but i dont have an idea now!! Is it just the concept of constant orbits in which electron doesnt lose or gain energy??more info pls!!

Last edited: Jan 18, 2006
2. Jan 20, 2006

### Tom Mattson

Staff Emeritus
Only up to the Bohr radius.

After that the probability decreases towards zero. I suspect that you are confused because you are looking at the square modulus of the wave function and you see that it increases monotonically as $r \rightarrow 0$. But you have to remember that that probability density function must be weighted by the factor $4\pi r^2$. This weighted probability density is the so-called radial probability density, and it attains its maximum value at the Bohr radius.