Why the orbitals can contain maximum of 2 electrons?

Raghav Gupta · Jan 28, 2015

why orbitals like s, px, py, pz etc can hold maximum of 2 electrons?
Why not some other number?

Quantum Defect · Jan 28, 2015

Raghav Gupta said: ↑

why orbitals like s, px, py, pz etc can hold maximum of 2 electrons?
Why not some other number?

Look up Pauli exclusion principle. http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inorganic_Chemistry/Electronic_Configurations/Pauli_Exclusion_Principle

mfb · Jan 28, 2015

Electrons have spin 1/2, so they just have two different states (called "up" and "down"). The Pauli exclusion principle does not allow multiple electrons in the same state.

Raghav Gupta · Jan 29, 2015

Quantum Defect said: ↑

Look up Pauli exclusion principle. http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inorganic_Chemistry/Electronic_Configurations/Pauli_Exclusion_Principle

The link is assuming that we are aware that the orbital can hold maximum of two electrons and then assigning 1/2 and -1/2 spins to two electrons.

mfb said: ↑

Electrons have spin 1/2, so they just have two different states (called "up" and "down"). The Pauli exclusion principle does not allow multiple electrons in the same state.

Why in Pauli exclusion principle the electrons have 1/2 and -1/2 spin accounting for 2 electrons?
For example if we have 1/4 spin, then we can have 4 electrons in an orbital, with 2 electrons having 1/4 spin and other 2 -1/4 spin.

bhobba · Jan 29, 2015

Raghav Gupta said: ↑

For example if we have 1/4 spin, then we can have 4 electrons in an orbital, with 2 electrons having 1/4 spin and other 2 -1/4 spin.

Spin 1/4 is impossible - its a basic property of spin as just about any book on QM will derive eg see page 144 of Dirac - Principles Of QM which is the book the came to hand. It can only be values +-n/2 where n is an integer. It turns out for electrons, as explained by Quantum Field Theory, they have only values +-1/2.

Thanks
Bill

Raghav Gupta · Jan 29, 2015

Not read that book. I think it is taught in university. Is that true?
Well I was reading a high school level stuff.

bhobba · Jan 29, 2015

Raghav Gupta said: ↑

Not read that book. I think it is taught in university. Is that true? Well I was reading a high school level stuff.

Yes.

That being the case you just have to take our word for it.

Thanks
Bill

Raghav Gupta · Jan 29, 2015

bhobba said: ↑

That being the case you just have to take our word for it.

Thanks
Bill

Okay and thanks, but why are you thanking Bill. I nowhere find Bill in the discussion.

bhobba · Jan 29, 2015

Raghav Gupta said: ↑

Okay and thanks, but why are you thanking Bill. I nowhere find Bill in the discussion.

I am Bill - that's what the b in bhobba is.

Its just acknowledging the reader going to the trouble to read and consider what I wrote.

Many moons ago when I was a team leader doing programming work my director always signed her communications like that and I, being on the receiving end of it, thought it nice enough that I should reciprocate.

As a young person starting out its something to think about as well. Over the years I have unfortunately found, and I am far from immune to this, that those involved in highly technical pursuits sometimes forget we are dealing with human beings and this type of thing keeps you grounded.

Thanks
Bill

Raghav Gupta · Jan 29, 2015

Yeah understood

Thanks for the explanation
Raghav

Kidiz · Jan 29, 2015

Raghav Gupta said: ↑

Okay and thanks, but why are you thanking Bill. I nowhere find Bill in the discussion.

OFF-TOPIC:

Omg. I just have to say that I laughed for like 2mins after reading this. So funny mate!

mfb · Jan 29, 2015

bhobba said: ↑

Spin 1/4 is impossible - its a basic property of spin as just about any book on QM will derive eg see page 144 of Dirac - Principles Of QM which is the book the came to hand. It can only be values +-n/2 where n is an integer. It turns out for electrons, as explained by Quantum Field Theory, they have only values +-1/2.

To extend that: particles with spin 1 can have +1, 0 and -1, particles with spin 3/2 can have +3/2, +1/2, -1/2, -3/2 and so on. Particles with spin 0 have no choice.
The exclusion principle applies to fermions only, those are particles with non-integer spin values (1/2, 3/2, ...).

Raghav Gupta · Jan 29, 2015

mfb said: ↑

To extend that: particles with spin 1 can have +1, 0 and -1, particles with spin 3/2 can have +3/2, +1/2, -1/2, -3/2 and so on. Particles with spin 0 have no choice.
The exclusion principle applies to fermions only, those are particles with non-integer spin values (1/2, 3/2, ...).

Thanks. Not read about this earlier. Will see to it some time later.

DrDu · Jan 30, 2015

bhobba said: ↑

I am Bill - that's what the b in bhobba is.
l

And I always thought that it is an indian name! :-)

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Why the orbitals can contain maximum of 2 electrons?

Raghav Gupta

Quantum Defect

mfb

Staff: Mentor

Raghav Gupta

bhobba

Raghav Gupta

bhobba

Raghav Gupta

bhobba

Raghav Gupta

Kidiz

mfb

Staff: Mentor

Raghav Gupta

DrDu

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