Atomic orbitals 3d wave function nodal structures

This page contains movies depicting the 3d orbital wave functions. In all cases the red zones are where the 3d wave functions have positive values and the white zones denote negative values. See the 3d electron density page for movies depicting the 3d electron density and nodal structures.

3d_z² orbital wave functions

Play this movie depicting the 3d_z² wave function (ψ_3dz²) to get a clearer view of the nodal structure for this orbital.

The surface plot on the left shows values of (ψ_3dz²) on a slice drawn through the nucleus and including the z-axis. The graph on the right is a plot of values along a single line drawn through the nucleus along the z axis. The 3d_z² orbital has two conical nodes. It has no spherical nodes but the higher d-orbitals ( 4d, 5d, 6d, and 7d) have one or more.

3d_x²–y², 3d_xy, 3d_xz, and 3d_yz orbital wave functions

Movie depicting the 3d_x²–y² wave function (ψ_{3dx²– y²}). The x-axis lies from left to right and the y-axis into the screen away from you. This orbital is related to the 3d_xy orbital (below) by a 45° rotation about the z-axis.

Movie depicting the 3d_xy wave function (ψ_3dxy). The plot on the left shows values of (ψ_3dxy) on the xy plane drawn through the nucleus The x-axis lies from left to right and the y-axis into the screen away from you. The line plot on the right is along a single line along the x=y line drawn through the nucleus. The form of the plots for the 3d_xz and 3d_yz orbitals is similar, differing only in orientation.

Each of the 3d_x²–y², 3d_xy, 3d_xz, and 3d_yz orbitals have two planar nodes normal to the axis of the orbital. These orbitals have no spherical nodes but the higher d-orbitals ( 4d, 5d, 6d, and 7d) have one or more.