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Chemistry Forums for Students => Inorganic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: harini_5 on April 15, 2008, 04:52:30 PM

Title: Which orbital gets which orientation?
Post by: harini_5 on April 15, 2008, 04:52:30 PM

Hi everybody! I'm currently learning about magnetic quantum number and also about various subshells.
In case of p we have Px,Py and Pz and the d orbital has d_x2-y2 etc. but which orbital gets which value of m? Plz answer with respect to both p and d.

Title: Re: Which orbital gets which orientation?
Post by: Alpha-Omega on April 16, 2008, 12:32:57 AM

Please see the attached word document:  Quantum Numbers

Title: Re: Which orbital gets which orientation?
Post by: Valdorod on April 16, 2008, 02:19:46 AM

There is alctually no set standard, the values of m are just "labels" for the posibilities, it is actually up to the textbook that you are using or your teacher/professor.

Nonetheless, most college textbooks of general chemistry, including
General Chemistry by Chang
Chemistry by Silberberg
Chemistry by Freeman
Chemistry by Atkins

will typically asign the following
px = -1
py = 0
py = +1

dxy = -2
dxz = -1
dyz = 0
dx²-y² = 1
dz² = 2

The p assignments are the most common
The d assignments actually vary more even from one authors edition to the next.

Thus remember that the assignment is arbitrary, however, I always tell my students that for purposes of my class they should use the above assignments.

Valdo

Title: Re: Which orbital gets which orientation?
Post by: english on April 16, 2008, 02:32:47 AM

It's arbitrary.

Title: Re: Which orbital gets which orientation?
Post by: Alpha-Omega on April 16, 2008, 06:31:06 PM

The assignment is arbitrary.  The explanation I attached merely shows a convention for inventory purposes (ref:  Visualization of p and d orbitals).  ;)