- #1
gomefun2
- 3
- 0
I have been fighting about this with my inorganic chemistry professor for the past week. As far as I can tell when you take the radial wave function for the 1 s orbital, square it, then times it by r^2, you get a zero probability to find the electron in the middle of the 1s orbital, and a local maximum at the bohr radius.
He told me that the radial function squared represents probability or some non-sense (instead of the radial wave function squared, times r^2 (I thought you can only square the entire wave function to get probability not just the radial part)). He also stated that there are a few concepts in chemistry that require the electron to be at the exact center of the atom to work. He also said the 1 S orbital has no nodes, so the electron can therefore exist anywhere in the universe.
I can't find any other way to describe electron density online (or in any textbook), besides the radial and angular wave functions, which suggest that there is a 0 chance, to find the electron at the exact center of an atom (ie s orbital).
I need someone to tell me that I'm wrong or right, then explain why. If I'm right, tell me something that can shut my prof up, and prove I'm right, so i can get sleep at night. If I'm wrong tell me why please.
This problem is taking up waaaaay tooo much of my free time.
My understanding of quantum mechanics, is about the level of solving the schrodinger equation, and applying the 1d ideas to 3d space.
Thank You
He told me that the radial function squared represents probability or some non-sense (instead of the radial wave function squared, times r^2 (I thought you can only square the entire wave function to get probability not just the radial part)). He also stated that there are a few concepts in chemistry that require the electron to be at the exact center of the atom to work. He also said the 1 S orbital has no nodes, so the electron can therefore exist anywhere in the universe.
I can't find any other way to describe electron density online (or in any textbook), besides the radial and angular wave functions, which suggest that there is a 0 chance, to find the electron at the exact center of an atom (ie s orbital).
I need someone to tell me that I'm wrong or right, then explain why. If I'm right, tell me something that can shut my prof up, and prove I'm right, so i can get sleep at night. If I'm wrong tell me why please.
This problem is taking up waaaaay tooo much of my free time.
My understanding of quantum mechanics, is about the level of solving the schrodinger equation, and applying the 1d ideas to 3d space.
Thank You