Question

The shape of a 3p orbital resembles_________.

Answer 1

Shape of $$3p$$ orbital:

• The $p$ orbital consists of two parts which can be called lobes that lie on either side of the plane that passes through the nucleus.
• The $$3p$$ orbitals are identical in terms of shape/size/energy. The lobes present in the p – orbital lie along the x, y, or the z-axis
• And it can be denoted as ,$3p_x,3p_y,$and $3p_z$.
• These three axes are mutually perpendicular.
• With the increase in principal quantum number, the energy and the size will also increase. Hence, the order is $$4p>3p>2p$$.

The shape of $p$ orbital is given below:

Thus, The shape of a $$3p$$ orbital resembles a Dumbbell shape.