Module 1 : Atomic Structure
Lecture 5 : Wave Functions and Charge Densities.
 

A boundary surface is a surface which includes more than 95% or 99 % of the charge density of the electron inside it .The value of the percentage is of course arbitrary, but this region gives a good quantitative measure of the space inside which there is a high probability of finding the corresponding electron.

 

The boundary surfaces for the s, p and d orbitals are shown in fig 5.4. This does not mean that the electron can not be found outside this surface. It only means that the probability is small. If some other object approaches the atom, the electron, under the influence of the object, can easily come out of this surface or another electron can enter this surface. These influences lie at the heart of all chemical processes.
 
Figure 5.4

a)

b)
 

c)

d)

e)


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Figure 5.4 Boundary surfaces of s, p and d orbitals.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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