Question

${{{\psi }}^2} = 0$ represents:
A) A node
B) An orbital
C) Angular wave function
D) Wave function

Answer 1

Hint: ${{\psi }}$ is known as a wave function. The square of a wave function ${{{\psi }}^2}$ represents the probability of finding the electron in a region of a quantum mechanical system.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The square of wave function ${{{\psi }}^2}$represents the probability of finding the electron in the quantum mechanical system. The region where the probability of finding the electron becomes zero represents the node.so, ${{{\psi }}^2} = 0$ represents a node so option (A) is correct.
Orbital in the quantum mechanical system represents the region where the probability of finding the electron is maximum, so option (B) is incorrect.
Angular wave function defines the electron’s motion in spherical harmonics. The square of an angular wave function is used to define the shape of orbitals. So, option (C) is incorrect.
Every quantum mechanical system is completely specified by a function represented as ${{\psi }}$. The wave function ${{\psi }}$depends upon the coordinate of the particle and on time. The solution of the wave function for a quantum mechanical system is given by using the Schrodinger equation. So, option (D) is incorrect.

Therefore, option (A) Node, is the correct answer.

Note: The wave function can have negative or positive values because the waves have positive and negative phases but the probability of finding the electron cannot be negative it will be positive or zero means the electron will be at some position or it will be not. So, the square of the wave function is used to represent the probability. Remember at nodes ${{\psi }}$and${{{\psi }}^2}$both become zero.