1. B. the probability of finding an electron in any given region
QUESTION:
Atomic orbitals are mathematical functions that allow us to determine all of the following except…. A. the location and velocity of an electron at any given time
B. the probability of finding an electron in any given region
C. how an atom would behave in a magnetic field
D. the energy needed to remove an electron from an atom
Violates Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
Information from magnetic and spin quantum numbers
SCRIPT
Atomic orbitals are mathematical functions that allow us to determine all of the following except….
The location oand velocity of an electron at any given time
the probability of finding an electron in any given region
how an atom would behave in a magnetic field, or
D. The energy needed to remove an electron from an atom.
PAUSE 2 seconds.
All of the choices given can be determined from the atomic orbitals, except for the location and velocity of an electron.
CLICK
Nature does not seem to allow us to precisely determine position and velocity at the same time. This is known as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.
Quantum Theory accounts for the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle by completely avoiding any attempt to describe the motion of an electron. With quantum theory, we can only talk about probabilities of finding electrons.
HIGHLIGHT Choice B.
If you know calculus, here’s how we can find the probability of finding an electron if we know the atomic orbital that describes it.
Suppose f is the atomic orbital.
We square the absolute value of orbital,…
HIGHLIGHT |f|2
then integrate over the coordinates of the region we’re interested in.
HIGHLIGHT Integral, limits, and integrand
The integral given here is an oversimplification. We would generally need to do a triple integration since the electron exists in a three-dimensional world.
Atomic orbitals have terms that give us information about properties of the atom. For example
CLICK The magnetic quantum number and the spin quantum number allow us to explain the behavior of atoms in the presence of a magnet.
Whereas the principal and orbital quantum numbers allow us to determine the energy of an electron and the energy needed to remove the electron from the atom.
Information from principal and orbital quantum numbers

2. Video ID: © 2008, Project VALUE (Video Assessment Library for Undergraduate Education), Department of Physical Sciences Nicholls State University Author: Glenn V. Lo Funded by Louisiana Board of Regents Contract No. LA-DL-SELECT-13-07/08