Question

The shape of an orbital is decided by:
A.Radial wave function
B.Angular wave function
C.Magnetic quantum number
D.Spin quantum number

Answer 1

Hint: In the given question it is asked which one of the given options decides the ultimate shape of the orbital as each kind of them are known for having various shapes and sizes. Now, apart from this, we know that there are many sets of quantum numbers that are present and among them, the Azimuthal quantum number decides which is denoted by ‘l’.

Complete step by step solution:
In the given question we have to find out which characteristic of the quantum analysis is responsible for the ultimate decision of the orbital shape.
Here the given options are
a)Radial wave function
b)Angular wave function
c)Magnetic quantum number
d)Spin quantum number
Now we can say that in the given analysis of quantum chemistry we see that the orbital shape is designated and decided by the ultimate value of the quantum number ‘l’.By this, we get that this quantum number is the decider.
Now this ‘l’ is mentioned by various names like the angular momentum quantum number and it is also known as an azimuthal quantum number. Apart from that, it is also called the Angular wave function.
The different shapes of orbitals are also given as
\[l = 0\], which is also called s-orbital.
\[l = 1\], which is also called p-orbital.
\[l = 2\], which is also called d-orbital.
\[l = 3\], which is also called f-orbital.
Therefore, the right option would be the option Angular wave function.

Hence, the correct answer is option is B.

Note: An azimuthal quantum number is a quantum number for an atomic orbital that determines its orbital angular momentum and describes the shape of the orbital. The azimuthal quantum number is the second of a set of quantum numbers which describe the unique quantum state of an electron (the others being the principal quantum number, the magnetic quantum number, and the spin quantum number).