JEE Main · 2025 · 04 Apr 2025 · Shift 1 · Atomic Structure

For the hydrogen $1s$ orbital the probability density ${\psi }^2$ is greatest at the nucleus and decreases smoothly with distance, the orbital is spherically symmetrical, and the electron has a finite though diminishing probability of being found at any distance, including $2a_0$. The total energy of the bound electron, however, is a fixed quantity ($-13.6\mathrm{eV}$) set by its quantum state and does not depend on where the electron happens to be, so it does not become maximum at a distance $a_0$. The statement claiming the energy is maximum at $a_0$ is the incorrect one.