American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The designation Dx2y2 refers specifically to a type of d-orbital that is part of the five d-orbitals found in transition metals. This particular orbital is characterized by its unique shape, which has four lobes directed towards the x and y axes and a nodal plane along the z-axis.

In the context of d-orbitals, each one has a distinctive orientation and geometry. The dxy, dxz, dyz, dz2, and dx2y2 orbitals all have specific spatial distributions of electron density. The dx2y2 orbital, in this case, has lobes lying in the xy-plane and is often found in the field of ligand interaction in coordination chemistry, influencing how substances interact with d-block metals.

Other choices represent different types of orbitals that have their own shapes and orientations, such as the px and dz2 orbitals, which do not correspond to the characteristics or shape of the dx2y2 orbital. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in concepts such as coordination complexes, molecular geometry, and electron configuration. Therefore, the correct identification of the dx2y2 orbital connects directly with its defined role in chemical bonding and molecular structure.