2s Orbitals Really are Bigger than 2p and other Urban Legends of Atomic Orbitals Debunked

How big is an orbital? What measures do chemists use for orbital size and how are they computed using quantum mechanics? Why would an orbital on carbon be smaller than one on lithium? Is is purely an electrostatic effect, or would the presences of other electrons change the sizes? How? We introduced the first multi-electron atomic system we will study: He. The problem? It can't be solved! Why? Electron-electron repulsion makes the Hamiltonian inseparable.


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