How many nodal surfaces does a 4s orbital have? Draw a cutaway representation of a 4s orbital showing the nodes and the regions of maximum electron probability.

Quantum numbers are a set of numerical values that describe the unique quantum state of an electron in an atom. The principal quantum number (n) indicates the energy level and size of the orbital, while the azimuthal quantum number (l) defines the shape of the orbital. For a 4s orbital, n=4 and l=0, indicating a spherical shape.

Nodal surfaces are regions in an atomic orbital where the probability of finding an electron is zero. The number of nodal surfaces in an orbital is determined by the azimuthal quantum number (l). For a 4s orbital, which has l=0, there is one radial node, meaning it has one nodal surface separating regions of different electron density.

Electron probability density refers to the likelihood of finding an electron in a particular region of space around the nucleus. This concept is visualized through electron density plots, where darker areas indicate higher probabilities. In the case of the 4s orbital, the representation shows regions of maximum electron probability and the spherical shape of the orbital.