- #1
avito009
- 184
- 4
Why was I taught in high school that shell, subshells and orbitals were the same thing?
avito009 said:Why was I taught in high school that shell, subshells and orbitals were the same thing?
A shell refers to the main energy levels in an atom, labeled as 1, 2, 3, etc. Subshells are the divisions within each energy level, labeled as s, p, d, f. Orbitals are the specific regions within a subshell where electrons are most likely to be found.
Some textbooks use these terms interchangeably because they are often used to describe similar concepts and can be confusing for students. However, they are distinct and refer to different aspects of atomic structure.
The number of subshells in each energy level corresponds to the number of the energy level. For example, the first energy level (n=1) has one subshell (s), the second energy level (n=2) has two subshells (s and p), and so on.
The shapes of orbitals in different subshells are different. s subshells have a spherical shape, p subshells have a dumbbell shape, d subshells have a cloverleaf shape, and f subshells have a complex shape with multiple lobes.
The periodic table is organized based on the electron configurations of elements, which are determined by the arrangement of electrons in shells, subshells, and orbitals. The periods (rows) correspond to the energy levels, while the groups (columns) correspond to the number of valence electrons in the outermost shell.