6g atomic orbitals

For any atom, there are nine 6g orbitals. The higher g-orbitals (7g) are more complex since they have more spherical nodes while lower g-orbitals (6g) have none.

The shapes of the nine 6g orbitals. From left to right: (top row) 6g_z⁴, (next to top row) 6g_z³x and 6g_z³y, (middle row) 6g_z²xy and 6g_{z²(x² - y²)}, (next to bottom row) 6g_zx³ and 6g_zy³, (bottom row) 6g_xy(x²-y²) and 6g_{x⁴ + y⁴}. For each, the purple zones are where the wave functions have positive values and the white zones denote negative values.

The five 6g orbitals. Use the previous and next icons to see other views

The five 6g orbitals including orbital nodes. Use the previous and next icons to see other views

Nodes of the five 6g orbitals. Use the previous and next icons to see other views

The 6g_xy(x²-y²) and 6g_{x⁴ + y⁴} (bottom row in the image above) are related to each other by a 22.5° rotation about the z-axis.

The 6g_zx³ [an abbreviation for 6g_{xz(x² - 3y²)}] and 6g_zy³ [an abbreviation for 6g_{yz(3x² - y²)}] orbitals (next to bottom row in the image above) are related to each other by a 30° rotation about the z-axis.

The 6g_z²xy [an abbreviation for 6g_{xy(6z² - x² - y²)}] and 6g_{z²(x² - y²)} [an abbreviation for 6g_{(x² - y²)(6z² - x² - y²)}] orbitals (middle row in the image above) are related to each other by a 45° rotation about the z-axis.

The 6g_z³x and 6g_z³y (next to top row in the image above) are related to each other by a 90° rotation about the z-axis.