Atomic orbitals 5d wave function nodal structures

This page contains movies depicting the 5d orbital wave functions. In all cases the red zones are where the 5d wave functions have positive values and the white zones denote negative values. See the 5d electron density page for movies depicting the 5d electron density and nodal structures.

5dz2 orbital wave functions

Play this movie depicting the 5dz2 wave function (ψ5dz2) to get a clearer view of the nodal structure for this orbital.

The surface plot on the left shows values of (ψ5dz2) 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 5dz2 orbital has two conical nodes. It has no spherical nodes. The higher d-orbitals ( 6d and 7d) have more while lower orbitals ( 3d and 4d) have fewer.

5dx2y2, 5dxy, 5dxz, and 5dyz orbital wave functions

Movie depicting the 5dx2y2 wave function (ψ5dx2y2). The x-axis lies from left to right and the y-axis into the screen away from you. This orbital is related to the 5dxy orbital (below) by a 45° rotation about the z-axis.

The graph on the left is a plot of values along a single line along the x=y line drawn through the nucleus while the surface plot on the right shows values of ψ5dxy on the xy plane drawn through the nucleus.

Movie depicting the 5dxy wave function (ψ5dxy). The plot on the left shows values of (ψ5dxy) 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 5dxz and 5dyz orbitals is similar, differing only in orientation.

Each of the 5dx2y2, 5dxy, 5dxz, and 5dyz orbitals have two planar nodes normal to the axis of the orbital. These orbitals have two spherical nodes. The higher d-orbitals ( 6d and 7d) have more while lower orbitals ( 3d and 4d) have fewer.


The OrbitronTM, a gallery of orbitals on the WWW: https://winter.group.shef.ac.uk/orbitron/
Copyright 2002-2023 Prof. Mark Winter [The University of Sheffield]. All rights reserved.