degenerate orbitals

hey why are the 3s 3p 3d 3f orbitals degenerate?

all i could say is that they have the same principal quantum number so they all have the sam energy. but the Q's 4 marks

Reply 1

oceane

They're only degenerate in hydrogen or 1-electron species like He+.

Yes because it's they have the same principal quantum number.

But when you have 2 or more electrons in an atom, there are electron-electron repulsions that affect the energy levels and not just the nucleus-proton forces. This splits the orbitals with the same n into sets, depending on their angular orbits (denoted s,p,d) The orbits of s electrons come closer to the nucleus than the orbits of p, d electrons etc & so feels a stronger attraction & hence is lower in energy.