A convenient way of visualizing the electron density is through a plot of the radial distribution function. The radial distribution function is defined by
P( r ) = 4
r 2 | | 2
The value of P( r ) is the probability density of finding the electron in a spherical shell at a distance r, or .............. 4
r 2 | | 2 dr gives the probability of finding the electron in a spherical shell of radius r and thickness dr. A sketch of 1s orbital is shown in Fig. 5.5.
( a ) | | 2
Figure 5.5 1s orbital.
Figure 5.5 (a) a plot of | | 2 , (b) 4 r 2 | | 2 Notice how the maxima in ( a ) and ( b ) are at completely different locations. Can you rationalize the difference? This radial distribution function is a product of an increasing function and a decreasing function.
r 2 | 
| 2
r 2 | 
| 2 dr gives the probability of finding the electron in a spherical shell of radius r and thickness dr. A sketch of 1s orbital is shown in Fig. 5.5. 
| 2 
| 2 , (b) 4 
| 2 Notice how the maxima in ( a ) and ( b ) are at completely different locations. Can you rationalize the difference? This radial distribution function is a product of an increasing function and a decreasing function. 
