Open Question
What is the maximum number of electrons that can fill the fourth principal energy level
9. Quantum Mechanics
Quantum Numbers: Principal Quantum Number
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How many orbitals are contained in the third principal energy level (n = 3) of a given atom?
A
9
B
6
C
12
D
3
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the principal energy level, denoted by 'n', determines the number of sublevels within that energy level. For n = 3, there are three sublevels: s, p, and d.
Recall that each sublevel contains a specific number of orbitals: the s sublevel has 1 orbital, the p sublevel has 3 orbitals, and the d sublevel has 5 orbitals.
Calculate the total number of orbitals in the third principal energy level by adding the orbitals from each sublevel: 1 (s) + 3 (p) + 5 (d).
Use the formula for the total number of orbitals in a principal energy level, which is n^2. For n = 3, calculate 3^2 to verify the total number of orbitals.
Conclude that the third principal energy level (n = 3) contains a total of 9 orbitals, based on the sum of orbitals from the s, p, and d sublevels.
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