Questions: This sketch is about 800 pm wide. The coordinate (x, y, and z) axes are also shown. You can rotate the sketch for a better view of the orbital by dragging the slider with your mouse. Suppose an atom with its nucleus at the origin has an electron in a 2 py orbital. Complete each row of the table below by deciding how PA, the probability of finding the electron at point A, compares to PB, the probability of finding the electron at point B. point A point B compare PA to PB

This sketch is about 800 pm wide.
The coordinate (x, y, and z) axes are also shown.
You can rotate the sketch for a better view of the orbital by dragging the slider with your mouse.

Suppose an atom with its nucleus at the origin has an electron in a 2 py orbital. Complete each row of the table below by deciding how PA, the probability of finding the electron at point A, compares to PB, the probability of finding the electron at point B.

point A  point B  compare PA to PB
Transcript text: This sketch is about 800 pm wide. The coordinate ( $x, y$, and $z$ ) axes are also shown. You can rotate the sketch for a better view of the orbital by dragging the slider with your mouse. Suppose an atom with its nucleus at the origin has an electron in a $2 p_{y}$ orbital. Complete each row of the table below by deciding how $P_{A}$, the probability of finding the electron at point $A$, compares to $P_{B}$, the probability of finding the electron at point $B$. \begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|} \hline \multicolumn{1}{|c|}{ point $\boldsymbol{A}$} & point $\boldsymbol{B}$ & compare $\boldsymbol{P}_{\boldsymbol{A}}$ to $\boldsymbol{P}_{\boldsymbol{B}}$ \\ \hline & & \\ \hline \end{tabular}
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Solution

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Solution Steps

Step 1: Analyze the provided information

The question states that the electron is in a 2py orbital. Point A is located along the -y axis, which is precisely where the 2py orbital is oriented. Point B is located along the -x axis.

Step 2: Recall properties of p orbitals

The 2py orbital has a dumbbell shape aligned along the y-axis. The probability of finding an electron is highest along the axis of the orbital and zero at the nucleus. Since point A is on the y-axis and point B is on the x-axis, the probability of finding the electron at point A is greater than at point B.

Final Answer:

PA > PB

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