Question

If l = 1 for an atom, then the number of orbitals in its subshell is:
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 0

Answer 1

There are four quantum numbers. Out of the four, Angular momentum quantum number is going to be denoted with a symbol ‘l’.
- For s-orbital Angular momentum quantum number (l) is zero.
- For p-orbital Angular momentum quantum number (l) is -1, 0, 1.
- For d-orbital Angular momentum quantum number (l) is -2, -1, 0, +1, +2.

Complete Solution :
- In the question it is given that l = 1 for an atom and asked to say the number of orbitals in its subshell.
- We know that the ‘l’ value for s-orbital is 0.
- For p-orbital the value of ‘l’ is -1, 0, +1.
- For d-orbital the value of ‘l’ is -2, -1, 0, +1, +2.
- From the question we can say that l = 1 belongs to p-orbital.
- So, the p orbital contains three sub-shells and they can represent as ${{p}_{x}},{{p}_{y}},{{p}_{z}}$ .
- Therefore if l = 1 for an atom, then the number of orbitals in its subshell is 3.
So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note: The three subshells of p-orbital can hold two electrons each in their shell then p-orbital can hold six electrons in total. The angular momentum quantum number determines the shape of the all orbitals present in the atom. The angular momentum quantum number ranges from o to (n-1). Here n is the principal quantum number.