Chapter U1.24, Problem 5E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Total number of subshells for elements in period 5 of the periodic tableis to be calculated.

Concept introduction:

Electrons revolve around the nucleus in orbits. These orbits are called shells. The shells are numbered as n = 1, 2, 3, 4…. Number of shells in an atom is the same as the number of period where the atom is located on the periodic table. Each shell is divided into further layers called subshells. Each subshell is a collection of orbitals. Subshells are denoted by using the shell number and the subshell letter; 1s, 2p, 3d, etc.

Answer to Problem 5E

For an element in period 5, total number of shells is 5

For n=1, there is only 1 subshell that is 1s

For n=2, there are 2 subshells. They are 2s and 2p

For n=3, there are 3 subshells. They are 3s, 3p and 3d

For n=4, there are 4 subshells. They are 4s, 4p, 4d and 4f

For n = 5, there are 5 subshells. They are 5s, 5p, 5d, 5f and 5g

Total number of subshells in all five shells = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15

Explanation of Solution

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 1 subshell‘s’. In n = 2, there are 2 subshells; ‘s’ and ‘p’. The following table shows number of subshells in each shell.

Shell (n=)	Subshell(s)	Number of subshells
1	1s	1
2	2s, 2p	2
3	3s, 3p, 3d	3
4	4s, 4p, 4d, 4f	4
5	5s, 5p, 5d, 5f, 5g	5

Total number of subshells = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15

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.