Question

Which one of the following expressions represent the electron probability function ?

• A. $4\pi rdr{\psi }^2$
• B. $4\pi r^{2}dr\psi$
• C. $4\pi r^{2}dr{\psi }^2$
• D. $4\pi rdr\psi$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The radial probability distribution of electron may be obtained by plotting the function $\text{4}{\pi }^{\text{2}}{\text{r}}^{\text{2}}{\text{R}}_{\text{n,l}}^{\text{2}}$ against r, its distance from the nucleus. Such graphs are known as radial probability distribution curves. Similar curves are obtained if the complete wave function $\psi$ is taken in the expression $4{\pi }^2{R}^2.dr.$ when the latter becomes $4{\pi }^2{r}^2{\psi }^{2}dr.$ So, the probability function $\sigma =4\pi r^{2}dr{\psi }^2$