For 3s orbital of hydrogen atom, the normalised wave function is Ψ3s=1(81)√3π(1a0)32[27−18ra0+2r2a20]e−r3a0 If distance between the radial nodes is d, the value of d1.5a0 is (two decimal places)(Take √108=10 )
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Solution
At Radial node the wave function becomes zero i.e. Ψ3s=0 181√3π(1a0)32[27−18ra0+2r2a20]e−r3a0=0
now since the exponential part cannot be zero as then we have r = inifinity which is not possible. so the polynomial part will be zero. 27−18ra0+2r2a20=0 2r2−18a.r+27a20=0 using formula of finding roots of quadratic equation : r=−−(−18a0)+−√(−18a0)2−4×2×27a202×2
r=18a0+−10a04
this will give us two roots of r (i.e two radial nodes) lets call them r1 and r2 so, r1=18a0+10a04
r2=18a0−10a04 so distance between the nodes will be: r1−r2=d=2×10a04