radial distribution function

further chem
radial distribution function:

• describes the probability of an electron being at a particular distance from the nucleus
• plot of probability density against

s orbitals have layers, so multiple peaks are observed in the RDF

peaks at higher values of mean that if the electron is further away, it is higher energy

values of where the probability are called radial nodes
the number of radial nodes can be found by

4s is lower in energy than 3d on average despite its peak being further away from the nucleus because of the local maxima close to the nucleus

• this is why it is filled first