A nodal plane is a plane, an area around an atom, in which the probability of finding an electron is zero.or we can also say nodal plane is a flat, 2-dimensional region in space where the electron's wavefunction () becomes zero.
Since the probability of finding an electron in a region is proportional to , a nodal plane represents an area of zero electron density.
Types of Nodes
Nodes in an orbital are areas of zero probability for finding an electron. These can be classified as:
1. Radial Nodes:
Spherical regions where the wavefunction is zero.
Radial nodes are determined by the principal quantum number and the angular quantum number .
Formula: Number of radial nodes = .
2. Angular Nodes (Nodal Planes):
Flat planes (or conical regions) where the wavefunction is zero due to the angular part of the orbital.
Number of angular nodes = , where is the azimuthal quantum number.
