How are s orbitals different from p orbitals?

1 Answer
Jul 25, 2015

The s orbital is spherical, while the p orbital is shaped like a dumbbell. Due to these shapes, the s orbital has only one orientation, while the p orbital has three degenerate orientations (#x#, #y#, and #z#), each of which can hold up to two electrons.

This is why you write #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 cdotcdotcdot# for electron configurations.

The s orbital has nodes that lay within its spherical boundaries at select radial distances #vecr#, but the p orbital has nodal planes.

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Whereas the s orbital only increases in size and varies due to the quantum number #n# (size) and #l# (number of radial nodes = #n - l - 1#), the p orbital increases in complexity for higher angular momentum #l# and higher quantum number #n#.

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