Question

The $3d$-orbitals having electron density in all the three axes is

• A. $3d_{xy}$
• B. $3d_{z^2}$
• C. $3d_{yz}$
• D. $3d_{zx}$

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The five $d$-orbitals are $d_{xy},d_{yz},d_{zx},d_{x^2-y^2},d_{z^2}$
and have shapes as given in the figure. It is clear that $d_{Z^2}$-orbital has one lobe along $z$ axis and donut-shaped electron cloud perpendicular to it in $xy$ plane, while all other d-orbitals have two dumbells eiher along the axis $\left(d_{x^2-y^2}\right)$ or in between the axis $\left(d_{xy},d_{yz},d_{zx}\right)$