RADIAL AND ANGULAR
WAVE FUNCTIONS
• The angular part of the wave function gives an idea about the orbital picture of the atom. It is dependent
on the angular variables. There are four quantum numbers to identify the position of an electron in an
atom.
• The wave function of an electron is made up of two parts, the radial part and the angular part
• The radial part of the wave function gives us an idea about the radial distance of the electron from the
nucleus. It is dependent on the quantum numbers ‘n’ and ‘l’.
• The angular part of the wave function gives us an idea about the orientation of the orbitals in space. It
is dependent on the quantum numbers ‘l’ and ‘m’
• When studying atoms (like hydrogen), we describe where an electron is likely to be using a wave
function ψ(r,θ,ϕ). This function depends on:
1. Distance from the nucleus (radial part: Rnl(r)).
2. Direction or shape of the orbital (angular part: Ylm(θ,ϕ)).
Radial Wave Function Rnl(r)
• The radial wave function tells us how the electron’s probability changes as we move away from the
nucleus. It depends on two numbers:
• n (principal quantum number): Decides the energy level of the electron n=1,2,3…
• l (azimuthal quantum number): Decides the shape of the orbital (l=0 for s, l=1 for p, l=2 for d, etc.).
Features of the Radial Function:
• Closer to the nucleus → Higher probability of finding the electron in lower energy levels.
• Farther from the nucleus → The probability decreases.
• Radial nodes → These are points where the probability of finding the electron is zero. The number of radial nodes =
n−l−1.
Angular Wave Function
• The angular wave function describes the shape and orientation of the orbital.
It depends on two quantum numbers:
• l (azimuthal quantum number): Defines the general shape of the orbital.
• l=0 → s orbital (spherical).
• l=1 → p orbitals (dumbbell-shaped).
• l=2 → d orbitals (clover-shaped).
• Higher values give more complex shapes.
• m (magnetic quantum number): Determines the orbital’s orientation in space (m can be from −l to +l ).
Features of Angular Functions:
• They determine where the electron is most likely found.
• s-orbitals have no preferred direction (spherical).
• p, d, f orbitals have different lobes where the electron is more likely to be.
• The total wave function is the product of the radial and angular parts:
• ψ(r,θ,ϕ)=Rnl(r)*Ylm(θ,ϕ)
• Radial part decides how far from the nucleus the electron can be.
• Angular part decides the shape and direction of the electron cloud.
For example:
• 1s orbital → Radial function is maximum at the nucleus, angular function is a sphere.
• 2p orbital → Radial function extends further, angular function forms a dumbbell.
SIGNIFICANCE
• The angular function determines where the electron is most likely to be found.
• For example, p-orbitals have zero probability along certain planes (angular nodes).
Magnetic Quantum Number m:
• m controls orbital orientation in space.
• For l=1 (p-orbitals), we have:
• m = −1 → px orbital (along x-axis).
• m=0 → pz orbital (along z-axis).
• m=1 → py orbital (along y-axis).
Angular Nodes (Regions of Zero Probability):
• The number of angular nodes =l.
• Example: p-orbitals (l=1) have one nodal plane.
