NEET2026ChemistryStructure of AtomActual
Consider the following schematic plots of orbital wavefunction ( _r ) against distance ( r ) from the nucleus. The figure representing two radial nodes in the orbital is
Options
- AD
- BA
- CB
- DC
Correct answer
D. C
Step-by-step solution
A radial node is a point where the radial wavefunction _r becomes zero and changes sign, excluding the origin ( r=0 ) and infinity ( r ). In a plot of _r versus r , the number of radial nodes corresponds to the number of times the curve crosses the horizontal axis ( _r = 0 ). Analyzing the given plots: Figure A: The curve does not cross the r -axis. Number of radial nodes = 0 . Figure B: The curve crosses the r -axis once. Number of radial nodes = 1 . Figure C: The curve crosses the r -axis twice. Number of radial