Here is a sketch of a 3d−x2y2 orbital:This sketch is about 1800pm wide.The coordinate (x, y, and z) axes are also shown.You can rotate the sketch for a better view of the orbital by dragging the slider with your mouse.Suppose an atom with its nucleus at the origin has an electron in a 3d−x2y2 orbital. Complete each row of the table below by deciding how PA, the probability of finding the electron at point A, compares to PB, the probability of finding the electron at point B.point A point B compare PA to PB200 pm above the nucleus, along the +z axis. 200 pm to the left of the nucleus, along the -x axis. <PAPB=PAPB>PAPB200 pm to the right of the nucleus, along the +x axis. 200 pm in front of the nucleus, along the -y axis. <PAPB=PAPB>PAPB200 pm behind the nucleus, along the +y axis. 200 pm below the nucleus along the -z axis. <PAPB=PAPB>PAPB

The 3d-x2y2 orbital is shaped like a four-leaf clover lying in the xy plane. The electron density is concentrated in four lobes, with two lobes along the x-axis and two lobes along the y-axis. There is a nodal plane along the z-axis.

1. Point A is 200 pm above the nucleus, along the +z axis. Point B is 200 pm to the left of the nucleus, along the -x axis. The probability of finding the electron at point A (PA) is less than the probability of finding the electron at point B (PB). This is because point A lies along the z-axis, where there is a nodal plane, and point B lies along the x-axis, where there is a lobe of the orbital. So, PA < PB.

2. Point A is 200 pm to the right of the nucleus, along the +x axis. Point B is 200 pm in front of the nucleus, along the -y axis. Both points lie along the x and y axes, where there are lobes of the orbital. Therefore, the probabilities of finding the electron at points A and B are equal. So, PA = PB.

3. Point A is 200 pm behind the nucleus, along the +y axis. Point B is 200 pm below the nucleus along the -z axis. Similar to the first comparison, point A lies along the y-axis, where there is a lobe of the orbital, and point B lies along the z-axis, where there is a nodal plane. So, the probability of finding the electron at point A is greater than the probability of finding the electron at point B. So, PA > PB.