What is the characteristic shape of an s orbital based on its quantum description?
Answer
Perfectly spherical
The text explicitly states that the s orbital is the simplest type and is characterized by a perfectly spherical shape. This spherical nature implies that the electron probability density associated with the s orbital is uniform in all directions radiating outward from the atomic nucleus. Furthermore, every principal energy level, starting from n=1, possesses exactly one s orbital. This contrasts sharply with p, d, and f orbitals, which possess more complex, directional shapes dictated by their respective angular momentum quantum numbers. The spherical symmetry of the s orbital is a foundational concept in understanding the basic structure of electron shells.
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