Confusion between orbitals and subshells etc

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Shannonhoang
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 3:00 am

Confusion between orbitals and subshells etc

Postby Shannonhoang » Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:48 pm

Can someone please clarify the differences between shells, subshells, and orbitals...
I looked it up in the textbook but I'm still a little confused

Chem_Mod
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Re: Confusion between orbitals and subshells etc

Postby Chem_Mod » Sat Oct 15, 2016 3:01 pm

Electrons in the same shell have the same n value. Within a shell (same n value), electrons in the same subshell have the same l value. Within a subshell ( same l value), electrons in the same orbital have the same ml value.

For example: If we compare the quantum numbers (excluding ms) of an electron in the 3px orbital and the 3py orbital, the 3px electron would have the quantum numbers: n=3, l=1, ml=-1. The 3py electron would have the quantum numbers n=3, l=1, ml=0. They are in the same shell (n=3), same subshell (both in the p subshell), but they are in different orbitals (one is in the px orbital, the other is in the py orbital).


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