Chapter U1.24, Problem 1E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Electron subshells are to be described.

Concept introduction:

Every atom consists of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, and electrons revolving around the nucleus in orbits. These orbits are called shells. The shells are numbered as n = 1, 2, 3, 4…. The shells in an atom equals to the period number to which element is present in the periodic table.

Answer to Problem 1E

Electron shells are divided into further layers called subshells. Each subshell is a collection of orbitals. Subshells are denoted by letters; s, p, d and f. Number of subshells in a shell depends on the shell number. For example in shell n = 1, there is only subshell‘s’. In n = 2, there are 2 subshells; ‘s’ and ‘p’.

Explanation of Solution

Electrons revolve around the nucleus in orbits. These orbits are called shells. The shells are numbered as n = 1, 2, 3, 4….and so on. The shells in an atom equals to the period number to which element is present in the periodic table. Each shell can have a fixed number of electrons. This is calculated by 2n² where n is the shell number. So first shell can have 2 electrons, second shell can have a maximum of 8 electrons and third shell can have a maximum of 18 electrons.

Scientists have proposed that each shell is further divided into subshells. Each shell can have ‘n’ number of subshells. The subshells are named by letters; ‘s’, ‘p’, ‘d’, ‘f’, etc. For example, in shell n = 1, there is only subshell‘s’. In n = 2, there are 2 subshells; ‘s’ and ‘p’. Each subshell can havefixed number of maximum electrons. ‘s’ subshell can have a maximum of 2 electrons. ‘p’ can have 6, ‘d’ can have 10 and ‘f’ can have 14 electrons.

Conclusion

Subshells are layers within shells of an atom where electrons move in different orbitals. Each subshell is further divided into orbitals. Each subshell is named as 1s, 2s, 2p, 3d, etc.