Where is an electron in 3Py orbital most likely to be found and where does the probability it vanish?
The most probable position is in the space occupied by the two large lobes; it "vanishes" at the intersection of those two lobes in the center spot.
To understand where an electron is most likely to be found in a 3p subshell, we need to consider the shape of the orbital and its probability distribution. The 3p orbital consists of three orbitals, denoted as 3px, 3py, and 3pz, which differ in their orientation in space.
The 3py orbital corresponds to the y-axis, with lobes of electron density along the positive and negative y-direction. The probability distribution represents the likelihood of finding the electron in a particular region of space.
In the 3py orbital, the electron is most likely to be found in the regions where the electron density is highest, which are the two lobes on either side of the y-axis. Specifically, the electron has higher probability of being found above and below the y-axis, while having lower probability near the x and z axes.
However, it's important to note that quantum mechanics does not provide a definite location for an electron at any given moment. Instead, it offers the probability of finding the electron in a particular region. Therefore, while the 3py orbital suggests higher probability of finding the electron in the lobes along the y-axis, it does not exclude the possibility of finding the electron elsewhere, although the probability is lower.
Regarding the "vanishing" of probability, it's essential to understand that the probability of finding an electron never truly reaches zero at any point. The electron may have a very low probability of being found in certain regions, but it technically doesn't vanish completely. The concept of probability vanishing to zero is a mathematical idealization that doesn't align with the principles of quantum mechanics.
In summary, the 3py orbital suggests that an electron is most likely to be found in the lobes on either side of the y-axis, but it could still be found elsewhere, albeit with lower probability. Probability doesn't vanish completely but decreases as we move away from the regions of high electron density.