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orbitals

I dont understand how to answer these orbitals. As far as i know it all goes like:
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 (how would 3d go?)

A question came along and asked me
''A modern model of the atom arranges electrons into orbitals, sub-shells and shells.
Complete the following table showing the maximum number of electrons which can be found
within each region.''

Number of electrons
a 2p orbital
the 3s sub-shell
the 4th shell

I thought 2p would be 6 (2p6) 3s would be 2 (3s2) and 4th shell would be 2 (3s2)
but answers tell me it is
a 2p orbital 2
the 3s sub-shell 2
the 4th shell 32


How do I work these out correctly?
Reply 1
Avatar for clownfish
clownfish
10
Original post by Stickyelmo
I dont understand how to answer these orbitals. As far as i know it all goes like:
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 (how would 3d go?)

A question came along and asked me
''A modern model of the atom arranges electrons into orbitals, sub-shells and shells.
Complete the following table showing the maximum number of electrons which can be found
within each region.''

Number of electrons
a 2p orbital
the 3s sub-shell
the 4th shell

I thought 2p would be 6 (2p6) 3s would be 2 (3s2) and 4th shell would be 2 (3s2)
but answers tell me it is


How do I work these out correctly?


Just need to learn these:
- An orbital can only ever hold 2 electrons
- s sub-shell holds 2 electrons (p sub-shell holds 6, d subshell holds 10)
- 1st shell holds 2 (s only), 2nd shell holds 8 (s and p), 3rd shell holds 18 (s,p,d), 4th shell holds 32 (s,p,d,f - not that you need to know about the f subshell!)
Original post by clownfish
Just need to learn these:
- An orbital can only ever hold 2 electrons
- s sub-shell holds 2 electrons (p sub-shell holds 6, d subshell holds 10)
- 1st shell holds 2 (s only), 2nd shell holds 8 (s and p), 3rd shell holds 18 (s,p,d), 4th shell holds 32 (s,p,d,f - not that you need to know about the f subshell!)


As for the last point its 2n2 right?
Reply 3
Avatar for Stickyelmo
Stickyelmo
OP
2
Original post by clownfish
Just need to learn these:
- An orbital can only ever hold 2 electrons
- s sub-shell holds 2 electrons (p sub-shell holds 6, d subshell holds 10)
- 1st shell holds 2 (s only), 2nd shell holds 8 (s and p), 3rd shell holds 18 (s,p,d), 4th shell holds 32 (s,p,d,f - not that you need to know about the f subshell!)


why does the answer say the 2p subshell has 2 electrons, not 6?
Reply 4
Avatar for clownfish
clownfish
10
Original post by Stickyelmo
why does the answer say the 2p subshell has 2 electrons, not 6?


It says a 2p orbital not subshell, so the answer is 2.
Reply 5
Avatar for clownfish
clownfish
10
Original post by arvin_infinity
As for the last point its 2n2 right?


Sorry I don't understand the question :s-smilie:
Original post by Stickyelmo
why does the answer say the 2p subshell has 2 electrons, not 6?


Where you got these from ! cuz the wording is weird!

It should have been "each orbital in the p sub-shell can contain 2 electrons"
Original post by clownfish
Sorry I don't understand the question :s-smilie:


You know

2=n=1
8--n=2
18--n=3
32 --n=4
.
.
.
2n2
Reply 8
Avatar for clownfish
clownfish
10
Original post by arvin_infinity
You know

2=n=1
8--n=2
18--n=3
32 --n=4
.
.
.
2n2


Never come across that. But if it works then great :smile:

To answer your other post, it's from question 1 of OCR A F321 June 2011.
Reply 9
Avatar for Stickyelmo
Stickyelmo
OP
2
Oh wow thanks a lot guys :smile:
Original post by arvin_infinity
As for the last point its 2n2 right?


Yeah, 2n2 tells you how many electrons an energy level (1, 2, 3, 4 etc.) can hold, where 'n' is the principle quantum number :smile:

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