Question

Find out the correct answer from the following and justify 1. A p-orbital can accommodate upto
a) 4 electrons
b) Six electrons
c) 2 electrons
d) 8 electrons

Answer 1

Hint : Magnetic quantum number $({{m}_{l}})$ describes how many orbitals are present in the subshell. Its value ranges from $+l,......0,.......-l$ where $l$ represents azimuthal quantum number. For p-orbital, the value of $l$ is $1$ .

Complete Step By Step Answer:
For p-orbital, the value of azimuthal quantum number $(l)$ is $1$ . The value of the magnetic quantum number $({{m}_{l}})$ is given by $+l,......0,.......-l$ . Therefore, for $l=1$ , ${{m}_{l}}=+1,0,-1$ . It means that there are three p-orbitals. These orbitals has dumbbell shape and has two lobes in each axis i.e. x , y and z axis i.e. ${{p}_{x}},{{p}_{y}}$ and ${{p}_{z}}$ . In each orbital, a maximum of two electrons can accommodate and hence a total of 6 electrons can be accommodated in the three p-orbitals.
Therefore, option (b) is correct.

Additional Information:
These three p-orbitals i.e. ${{p}_{x}},{{p}_{y}}$ and ${{p}_{z}}$ are degenerate which means that all have the same energy. That’s why it doesn’t involve the formation of complexes. In contrast, d-orbitals are not degenerate when ligands approach them and splitting takes place which is responsible for the formation of complexes such as low field ligand complexes and high field ligand complexes.

Note :
It is important to note that three p-orbitals are present in the subshell. These orbitals are along the x, y and z-axis i.e. ${{p}_{x}},{{p}_{y}}$ and ${{p}_{z}}$ . Each orbital can accommodate the maximum of two electrons and thus a p-orbital can accommodate upto 6 electrons. Therefore, option (b) is correct.