For which of the following orbitals is the radial probaility density `R^(2)` the maximum at the nucleus and descrease sharply as the distance form the nucleus increases?

Options

A. `1s`
B. `2s`
C. `3s`
D. All the `s` orbitals

Answer

A

Explanation

For `1s` orbital, `R^(2)` is large near the nucleus `(r = 0)`, indicating that the `1s` electron in most likely to be found in this region. The value of `R^(2)` decrease rapidly as the distance form the nucleus increases, but `psi^(2)` never goes to exactly zero, although the probaility does become extremely small at large distances from the nucleus.
On teh other hand, for `2s` orbital, `R^(2)`(radial probability density) first decreases sharply to zero but gain starts increasing. After reaching a small maximum, it decreases again and approaches zero as the distance form the nucleus increases. the region where the radial probability density `(R^(2))` reduces to zero is called radial node or sherical node.