Question

The orbitals are called degenerate when:

• A. they have the same wave functions
• B. they have the same wave functions but different energies
• C. they have different wave functions but same energy
• D. they have the same energy

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

they have the same energy

Answer 2

The orbitals are called degenerate when they have the same energy.

The orbitals having the same energy but different in orientation, are called degenerate orbitals. Such orbitals are associated with Aufbau Principle, Hund's Rule, and Pauli's Principle which gives us an insight into the basic manner in which the electrons are distributed in the orbitals. For e.g. 3d-orbital, l = 2,m = -2 ,-1 ,0 , +1, +2, i.e. there are five different orientations represented by $d_{xy},d_{yz},d_{zx},d_{{x^2}-y^2}\, and\, d_{z^2}.$

Hence, the correct answer is option D.