Question

How many orbitals do you think exist in an atom?

Answer 1

Hint : Orbitals are basically energy levels, number of electrons occupy different energy levels. Orbitals are termed as mechanical functions which tell us the location of electrons in atoms. The probability of finding an electron around the nuclei can be predicted by using this mathematical function.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Atomic orbitals can be classified into many types but only the first four stages are considered that is $spdf$ . All the electron who are having same principal quantum number $(n)$ they end up in same shell
$s$ orbital: It is spherically symmetrical in shape having nucleus in the centre. The energy level gets on increasing as we go away from the nucleus resulting in a bigger size of orbitals.
The order of size is $1s < 2s < 3s < ....$ and so on.
$1s$ has very less number of electrons near the nucleus but keeps on increasing as we go away from the nucleus. Such similar geometry or electron density is seen further.
$p$ orbitals: $1s$ orbitals is first energy level, the second energy level is $2p$ after $2s$ orbital. Unlike $s$ orbitals $p$ orbital points at a particular direction. At every energy level $p$ orbitals are in three directions x-y-z, perpendicular to each other. These directions are known as $px$ $py$ $pz$ . The second energy level $p$ is known as $2px,2py,2pz$ and similarly further energy levels can be written like this.
$d$ orbitals: after $s$ and $p$ orbitals come $d$ orbital for electrons having higher energies than previous ones. At this level there are a set of five $d$ orbitals with more complicated shapes and names. At this third level there are a total nine orbitals. The $3d$ orbitals are $3dxy,3dxz,3dyz,3d{x^2} - {y^2},3d{z^2}$
$f$ orbitals: At this level there are seven $f$ orbitals. These have even more complicated shapes and names. $f$ orbitals starts with $4f$ after $4s,4p,4d$ orbitals.

Note :
We don’t have to memorise shapes of all the orbitals, we just have to remember there are seven $f$ orbitals in each level from fourth level, similarly $p$ orbitals from second level orbitals and it has three $p$ orbitals. $d$ has five $d$ orbitals where it starts from the third energy level.