P Orbitals: Meaning of + & - Signs in Lobes

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The discussion clarifies the physical meaning of the + and - signs in the lobes of p orbitals, indicating their phase. Specifically, the signs represent the positive and negative values of the wave function in relation to the y-axis, with p orbitals exhibiting a node. The distinction between the px and py orbitals is explained as being due to their angular orientation, with px and py being rotations of the pz orbital.

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In the attached figure, what is the physical meaning of signs + and - in opposite lobes of p orbitals?
 

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Those indicate the phase of the p orbitals. Recall that p orbitals have a node, so that, e.g. for the left one the function is positive to the right of the y-axis and negative to the left of the y axis.
 
daveyrocket said:
Those indicate the phase of the p orbitals. Recall that p orbitals have a node, so that, e.g. for the left one the function is positive to the right of the y-axis and negative to the left of the y axis.
Thank you. Do you mean that it is due to the radial part of wave function? If so, how to realize between px and py?
 
No it's actually do to the angular part. px and py are just rotations of pz.
 

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