Question

Which of the following d-orbital does not have four lobes?}

• A. \(d_{xy}\)
• B. \(d_{yz}\)
• C. \(d_{xz}\)
• D. \(d_{x^2-y^2}\)
• E. \(d_{z^2}\)

Hint:

Remember this special shape: \[ d_{z^2} \] is the only \(d\)-orbital that does not look like a four-lobed clover.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Among the five \(d\)-orbitals, four of them have a four-lobed shape: \[ d_{xy},\ d_{yz},\ d_{xz},\ d_{x^2-y^2} \] But the \(d_{z^2}\) orbital has a different shape. It has:

• two lobes along the \(z\)-axis,
• and a doughnut-shaped ring in the middle.

So it does not have four lobes like the others.
Hence, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{d_{z^2}} \]