Seeing Orbitals: Making Sense of s and p (PLA 34)

10/11/2025

Listen "Seeing Orbitals: Making Sense of s and p (PLA 34)"

Episode Synopsis

Ben and Morgan unravel what s and p orbitals really mean by exploring quantum numbers, orbital sizes, and shapes. They connect abstract atomic ideas to real chemical behavior, and tackle why hydrogen’s Coulomb potential is spherical even though not all orbitals are shaped that way. This episode delivers core quantum concepts in chemistry, all without resorting to heavy math.