Question

A $3p$-orbital has:

• A. two non-spherical nodes.
• B. two spherical nodes.
• C. one spherical and one non-spherical node.
• D. one spherical and two non-spherical nodes.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

one spherical and one non-spherical node.

Number of radial nodes in an orbital$=n-l-1$
Number of angular nodes in an orbital$=l$
Number of total nodes in an orbital$=n-1$
as for $3p$,
angular node $=l=1$ as l is 1 for p.
radial node $=3-1-1=1$ and
total no of node $n-1=3-1=2$.