What is the total number of orbitals in the third shell? The four...

Question

What is the total number of orbitals in the third shell? The fourth shell?

Accepted Answer

Welcome back everyone. How many orbital's are present in the second shell? What about the third show? Beginning with our second shell or second energy level of an Adams configuration corresponding with our second shell, we have an associated sub shell and an associated number of orbital's which hold our electrons. So for an atom that has a configuration in the second shell, recall that we would go through our S sub shell as well as our P block of our periodic table which contains our P sub shell or corresponds to our P sub shell. Recall that for our s sub shell we have just one orbital in which I'm representing as this box. And recall that in this orbital we can hold a maximum of two electrons which we fill in as opposite spin arrows. Then recall that for our P sub shell we have a total of three orbital's which can hold a maximum of six electrons. And so counting our boxes which represent our orbital's, we can count a total of 1234 orbital's total. Now let's consider our 3rd show. So in adam with the configuration that reaches up to the third shell or third energy level on our periodic table, we should recall we'll have the S P sorry, S and P sub shells but we'll also have our D sub shell and recall that on our periodic table. Our D block, which contains our transition metals will begin at the third energy level even though the D block is found across period four on the periodic table. So for our number of orbital's as we stated, we have our single orbital for the S sub shell filled in with a maximum of two electrons. Our three orbital's for R p sub shell filled in with a maximum of six electrons. And then for our d sub shell, recall that that consists of a total of five orbital's which I'm representing as boxes as well and can hold a maximum of 10 electrons. So counting up our total number of orbital's, we have 123456789. Total orbital's making up our third shell. Just for clarity, let's also show what the first shell for an atom with a configuration in the first shell as well would look like. And recall that for the first shell we would have and actually, I'm just going to move our diagram down a bit. So let's move this label sub shell up here and our number of orbital's up here. So for an atom with a configuration in the first shell we would have our s sub shell only and our number of orbital's would just be one being our only single s orbital filled in with a maximum of two electrons. So we have one total orbital for the first show. And so for our final answers, we can confirm that in the multiple choice choice C makes the most sense. And we would highlight that our second shell has a total of four orbital's and our third shell has a total of nine orbital's, making up our S. P and D. Sub shells. And then for the second shell, R. S, and P sub shells make up our four total orbital's. And so for our final answers, what we have highlighted in yellow will complete this example. I hope this made sense and let us know if you have any questions.

What is the total number of orbitals in the third shell? The fourth shell?

Key Concepts

Electron Shells

Orbitals

Calculating Orbitals in Shells

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