The shape of a p orbital is
Correct answer: B. dumb-bell shaped
- A. spherical
- B. dumb-bell shaped
- C. double dumb-bell shaped
- D. irregular
Explanation
A p orbital has two lobes on either side of the nucleus with a node at the nucleus itself, giving the familiar dumb-bell shape. An s orbital is spherical and most d orbitals are double dumb-bell shaped, which is the distractor here. The three p orbitals lie along the x, y and z axes at right angles to one another.
Last updated
About Shapes of Orbitals
Atomic orbitals are three-dimensional regions where an electron is most likely to be found, not fixed circular paths. The content covers the spherical s orbitals, dumbbell-shaped p orbitals, clover-shaped d orbitals, the orientations of orbitals, and how quantum numbers determine their shapes and energy levels.
Practise Atomic Structure
922 free Atomic Structure MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this
Chemistry is on 12 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.