Question

For each of the following sublevels, give the n and l values and the number of orbitals: (a) 5s; (b) 3p; (c) 4f

Answer 1

Answer:

(a) 5s. n = 5. Sublevel s, l = 0. Number of orbitals = 1

(b) 3p. n = 3. Sublevel p, l = 1. Number of orbitals = 3

(c) 4f. n =4. Sublevel f, l = 3. Number of orbitals = 7

Explanation:

The rules for electron quantum numbers are:

1. Shell number, 1 ≤ n

2. Sublevel number, 0 ≤ l ≤ n − 1

So,

(a) 5s. n = 5, shell number 5. Sublevel s, l = 0. Number of orbitals = 2l +1 = 1

(b) 3p. n = 3, shell number 3. Sublevel p, l = 1. Number of orbitals = 2l +1 = 3

(c) 4f. n =4, shell number 4. Sublevel f, l = 3. Number of orbitals =  2l +1 = 7