Questions tagged [orbitals]
An orbital is a one-electron wavefunction, usually derived by solving the Schrodinger equation. This tag applies to questions about all forms of orbitals; additionally, questions about the construction and properties of molecular orbitals should be tagged with [molecular-orbital-theory].
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Why is the carbon in carbonyl compunds a good acceptor in nuclephilic acyl substititon when we are putting electrons in a higher antibonding orbital?
Wouldn't moving electrons into the Π* anti-bonding orbital have destabilizing effects on the molecule?
Here is the source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVVX0TCxzCY&t=67s
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Why only Balmer series of hydrogen spectrum is visible?
When I was reading about the hydrogen spectrum, I came across the statement:
Only Balmer series of hydrogen spectrum can be visible to our eyes.
I really got surprised by that. Why can't other ...
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Why d orbitals oriented along $z^2$ axis assigned zero magnetic quantum number?
I have been studying quantum mechanics recently and I have come across this:
d orbitals oriented along the $z^2$ axis is assigned zero magnetic quantum number
I am wondering why specifically the $dz^...
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Why does the ionisation energy of an electron depend only on n and l, when the electron Z(eff) is dependent on the four quantum numbers?
I am a bit confused by the classnotes of MIT.
It says that the binding energy of an electron (in a multi electronic atom) depends on $n$ and on $l$. Especially it says:
$$ E_{n,l} = -E_{I;n,l} = -\...
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Atomic radius decreasing across a Periodic Table row - does the RPD of an orbital change depending of the element considered?
I have a concern regarding the RPD of an orbital. Does the RPD of an orbital depend on the $Z$ (i.e. on the element under consideration) ? Especially, can the RPD of an orbital "shrink" to ...
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Based on RPDs, how to tell which orbital ($2s$ vs $2p$ or $4s$ vs $3d$) is more stable ? How reliable is the "less shielded" argument? [duplicate]
Professor (from MIT $5.111$ class) argues that $E_{2s} < E_{2p}$ by just saying that, due to the little bump of $2s$ (on the left of its RPD graph), $2s$ is less shielded and, hence, has lower ...
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Is the $2p$ RPD defined along the z-axis?
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 $r$:
My question is: in ...
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In the RDF plot of a particular orbital, why don't peaks come with radius greater than that of the max peak?
While studying radial distribution function (RDF) plots I see that orbitals (3s, 2s, ... 3p etc) often have peaks at radii less than that of the maximum peak. Assuming the probability of finding an e-...
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Nonplanar polarization in allenes and aromatic compounds
I recently came across this elaborate article on electrophilic aromatic subsitution.
In the third chapter "General mechanistic considerations in electrophilic aromatic substitution" the ...
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What's the most up to date explanation for the stability of high multiplicity states?
"However, accurate quantum-mechanical calculations (starting in the 1970s)... singly occupied orbitals are less effectively screened or shielded from the nucleus, so that such orbitals contract ...
user146362
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Do any molecules contain a phi bond?
In chemistry, phi bonds (φ bonds) are covalent chemical bonds, where six lobes of one involved atomic orbital overlap six lobes of the other involved atomic orbital. I researched this question a lot; ...
user145192
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Degeneracy of Orbitals
(Sorry, in advance if my question is silly or low quality but I want to ask this to someone.)
When an electron enters an orbital, it should technically have an electric Field and also magnetic field(...
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Why should higher energy empty orbitals be chosen over lower energy empty orbitals during hybridisation?
Organic chemistry by jonathan clayden states during his explanation of hybridisation using trigonal boron structure (sp2) and tetrahedral boron structure (sp3):
You want to populate the lowest energy ...
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On the relativistic contraction of orbitals
In Platinum $\text{Pt}$, why do $\text{s}$ and $\text{p}$ orbitals contract when electrons start travelling at relativistic speeds $|v|\sim c$, while $\text{d}$ orbital expands?
The way I reasoned ...
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Where are the electrons located when two atomic orbitals overlap? (VBT)
According to the valence bond theory(VBT), a covalent bond is formed by the overlapping of atomic orbitals containing electrons of opposite spin which pair together. However what is the physical ...
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