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Atomic Structure

Orbitals, electron spin and orbital shapes

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit AS 1

Overview

Term orbital, shape of an s orbital and shape of a p orbital.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Define the term orbital.

Key term

How many electrons can occupy a single orbital, and what must be true of them?

Key term

Why must two electrons in the same orbital have opposite spins?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define the term orbital.

    Model answer

    An orbital is a region within an atom that can hold up to two electrons.

  2. 2

    How many electrons can occupy a single orbital, and what must be true of them?

    Model answer

    An orbital holds a maximum of two electrons, and those two must have opposite spins.

  3. 3

    Why must two electrons in the same orbital have opposite spins?

    Model answer

    Two negatively charged electrons confined to the same region repel one another, and opposing spins is the only arrangement in which they can share that orbital.

  4. 4

    Describe the shape of an s orbital.

    Model answer

    An s orbital is spherical, with the nucleus at its centre.

  5. 5

    Describe the shape of a p orbital.

    Model answer

    A p orbital has a dumb-bell shape, with two lobes on opposite sides of the nucleus.

  6. 6

    How many p orbitals are there in a p subshell, and how are they arranged?

    Model answer

    There are three p orbitals, arranged along three mutually perpendicular axes.

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