Interactive Orbital Shape Visualizer

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How to Use

1. Use the Subshell Type selector to choose s, p, or d orbitals.
2. For p or d subshells, pick an orbital orientation (px, dyz, etc.).
3. Slide the principal quantum number (n) between 1 and 4 to see how orbital size expands.
4. Watch the right-hand panel update live with a probability heat map (Viridis color scale) and axes in Bohr radii.
5. The red dot marks the nucleus; text overlays remind students how many orbitals exist in each subshell.

Classroom Ideas

• Prediction Challenge: Ask students which orientations contain nodes at the nucleus before revealing the visualization.
• Energy Level Comparison: Toggle n from 1 to 4 for the same subshell and have learners describe the change in radial nodes.
• Assessment: Display an orbital and have students identify it by name and orientation using the controls as answer choices.