Class 11 Chemistry simulations · Structure of Atom

Shapes of atomic orbitals

Pick an orbital and the principal quantum number to see its 3D shape, lobes and nodes.

Open the simulation

What to notice

p orbitals have one nodal plane through the nucleus and d orbitals have two; the two colours show opposite signs of the wave function.

Key relation

radial nodes = n − l − 1 ; angular nodes = l ; total nodes = n − 1

Try this

Compare 2p and 3p: do they have the same shape? How many radial nodes does 3p have?

What you can change

• Orbital: choose s, pₓ, p_y, p_z, d_xy, d_yz, d_xz, d_x²−y², …
• Principal quantum number n: 1 to 4

More in Structure of Atom

• Electronic configuration (Aufbau, Pauli, Hund)
• Spectral series of hydrogen

See all Class 11 Chemistry simulations or every Physica simulation.