Question

Which of the following pair of orbitals possess two nodal planes each?

• A. $p_{x},d_{x^{2} - y^{2}}$
• B. $d_{x^{2} - y^{2}},d_{z^{2}}$
• C. $d_{xz},d_{x^{2} - y^{2}}$
• D. $p_{y},d_{xy}$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The shapes of the orbitals are as shown below,

The $d_{z^{2}}$ orbital is symmetrical about Z-axis and has a dumbbell shape with a doughnut-shaped electron cloud in the centre. $d_{z^{2}}$ has conical node while $d_{xz},d_{x^{2} - y^{2}}$ has two nodal planes each.