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In MIT $5.111$ class (lecture $6$), we are to compare the most probable radius of a $2s$ orbital and a $2p$ orbital. The graph used by the professor represents the RPD versus $r$:

RPD of a 2s orbital and of a 2p orbital

My question is: in the second figure, are we talking about the RPD along the z-axis (i.e. across a $2p_z$ orbital) or are we talking about the RPD across all the space ?

My guess is that the latter is true.

My guess is based on the fact that the RPD is always the derivative relative to $r$ of $\int \int \int | \psi|^2 dV $, hence no specific axis is used to get the RPD.

Can anyone confirm if my reasoning is right ?

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    $\begingroup$ Your reasoning is right. The meaning of RPD is the same as always. There is nothing left to guess. $\endgroup$
    – Ivan Neretin
    Commented Jun 13 at 17:10

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