Chemistry / Unit 5 Chem 0834 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The s Orbital Shape
Captions available
The idea
Every s orbital, l = 0, has a spherical probability region centered on the nucleus, the simplest shape at every shell.
In practice
The 1s orbital is a single sphere; the 2s orbital is a larger sphere with an internal node.
Where people slip
A larger n's s orbital is not merely a bigger sphere — it gains internal nodes as n increases.
Your place on the trail
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