IIT JEE , AIEEE Forum - Chemistry , Physical Chemistry - atomic structure .. conceptual [rates assured ]

pal_sodhi91

k here's another mind boggling ques ..

we say that electron cloud of p-orbital is distributed on both sides of the planar node and we also say there is zero probability for an electron to exist in the planar node of p-orbital .. then how does the electron travel from upper electron density region to lower lobe (of the p-orbital) .. i would really appreciate if someone can briefly explain the movement of an electron in p-orbital ..

Hope my question is clear ..

abhi3_raj

see, when we say that the probability at the nodes is minimum that doesnt mean that electron really cant pass through that region. that only means that the probability of finding the electron at that point is least compared to other points i9n the space but still its not zero. so the electron can pass through it

abhi3_raj

moreover, thye figure of the p-orbital that we see is just a probability distribution curve and not the path followed by an electron. the actual path may be entirely different in shape

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