1.3B Electron Orbitals

What equation tells us the maximum number of electrons that can be found in each energy level?

2n²

Define sub-level. How do you relate principal energy levels to sub-levels?

region where electron can be found and involves the shape of the region

Each principal energy level, n, can be divided into one or more sub-levels.

define Orbital

regions of space where there is a high probability of finding an electron

Tell me about the s sub-level using hydrogen and lithium as examples

• spherical region close to the nucleus

Hydrogen

• The hydrogen atom has one electron

• This region is denoted 1s

Lithium

• Lithium has an electron in n = 2

• This electron inhabits a region known as 2s

Define Node

a region where there is zero probability of finding an electron

Tell me about the p sub-level

• The second energy level, n = 2, can have s and p sub-levels

• This sub-level is dumbbell shaped and it can point in different directions

• px, py, and pz orbitals

Tell me about the d sub-level

• More energy levels means that the regions for an electron take on more shapes

• Energy level n = 3 can have s, p, and d sublevels

Tell me about the f sub-level

Energy level n = 4 and higher can have s, p , d, and f sub-levels