Question

How many orbitals are in each sublevel?

Answer 1

The orbitals present around the nucleus of the atom contain subshells. The electrons that move around the nucleus are moved in specific energy levels called stationary orbits and a stationary orbit contains subshells also.

Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked how many orbitals are present in each subshell.
- Each shell present in the atom is made up of different subshells.
- As we move away from the nucleus the number subshells in a shell are going to increase.
- The number of subshells present in a shell can be determined by using a magnetic quantum number (${{m}_{l}}$ ) which contains values from – l to + l.
- For example take a 2p shell and the number of subshells present in 2p are as follows.
- ‘l’ value for 2p orbital is 1 means l = 1, means ${{m}_{l}}$ will be = -1, 0, +1.
- Means 2p orbital contains 3 subshells and they are $2{{p}_{x}},2{{p}_{y}}~and~2{{p}_{z}}$ .
- Therefore s-orbital contains only one subshell, p-orbital contains 3 subshells, d-orbital contains 5 subshells and f-orbitals contains 7 subshells .

Note: The number of subshells present in a shell is going to depend on the magnetic quantum number of that particular shell. Magnetic quantum number values of s, p, d and f orbitals are as follows.
${{m}_{l}}$ for s-orbital = 0
${{m}_{l}}$ for p-orbital = -1, 0, +1
${{m}_{l}}$ for d-orbital = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
${{m}_{l}}$ for f-orbital = -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3