Question

What is the difference between energy level and orbital?

Answer 1

I know that you can determine the number of orbitals from an energy level by n^2, but I thought that orbitals were the same as energy levels. I am confused.

Answer 2

@JoannaBlackwelder anytime that you finished answering other people question. Could you please help me with this one? Thank you very much.

Answer 3

Energy levels are distinct distances from the nucleus. orbitals are subsections of the energy levels, which are volumetric regions where specific electrons are most likely to be found. Energy levels are given by natural numbers 0,1,2,3. Orbitals are given by s,p,d,f,g , indicating the first orbital second orbital etc. in that specific energy level.

Answer 4

The lowest energy level is not 0, but it is rather 1.
This can be associated with the principle quantum number, n.

Also, just to clarify, what you have above are not shells, but rather sub-shells.
Shells are given other letters, such as K, L, M and so forth..

Answer 5

There is a theoretical n=0 energy level.

Answer 6

I did not understand which one is sub shell and which one is orbital.

Answer 7

@Hoslos do you know by any chance?

Answer 8

@shawmoes can you explain what is sub shell?

Answer 9

A subshell is a set of electrons that all have the same value of (azimuthal quantum number). You can think of as a label for a group of orbitals that have related shapes.

Answer 10

Sure. Orbital or quantum number is the shell of an atom or the circunference in which electrons are expected to be fiund at the highest probability, whereas energy level, which is within the orbitals, identify the type of 'sub-orbital' in which the electron is in a given orbital.

Answer 11

@lik3abos5 where are sub shells located?

Answer 12

In a given orbital.

Answer 13

For example, period 4 elements have 4 orbitals. Period 5 have 5 orbitals and so on.

Answer 14

Man, don't ask me about where they are located, I am not in high school yet :P

Answer 15

I just know some

Answer 16

@Hoslos are energy levels located in the orbital or the orbitals are located in the energy level?

Answer 17

Each energy level has distinct orbitals.

Answer 18

Energy levels are within the oritals.

Answer 19

@Hoslos incorrect. We always describe the electron by the energy level first, then the type of orbital it is in, in the energy level.

Answer 20

@korosh23 I didn't read the above in too much detail but thought I'd throw all the info into one post to make sure things are clear:

An orbital is a "specific" way of describing an electron's position in an atom. There are several levels of organization, represented by quantum numbers, that help identify the positions of individual electrons in an atom. Without going into too much detail:

The most general you get is with the principal quantum number, which refers to the ENERGY LEVEL we're talking about. Energy levels are numbered as 1, 2, 3, etc. Generally speaking, a new energy level is added with each new row on the periodic table as you add more electrons (it's a bit more involved than that but I think any more explanation is beyond what you need to understand).

EACH energy level can be subdivided into SUBSHELLS, which are often represented by letters (s, p, d, f, etc). These letters correspond to the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, etc, which are called the azimuthal quantum number. The tricky part is that as you go up in energy level, you gain a subshell. So energy level 1 only has an s subshell, energy level 2 has an s and a p subshell, and so on.

EACH subshell can be further subdivided into ORBITALS. These represent the physical spaces the electrons are actually moving around in, and each orbital can accommodate two electrons. Each subshell has a different number of orbitals - the s subshell has 1 orbital (shaped like a sphere), the p subshell has 3 orbitals (each shaped like a dumbbell), etc. As you can see, 2 orbitals are added with each subshell, so the quantum number to describe them, called the magnetic quantum number, are numbered as +/- the azimuthal quantum number (e.g. for p, the azimuthal quantum number is 1, so the 3 orbitals are numbered -1, 0, and 1).

There's a fourth quantum number called the spin quantum number. It has a value of ½ or -½, and is just used to differentiate electrons within the same orbital.

Hopefully that helps clear up any confusion. If you have any questions feel free to ask, and myself or one of the others can chime in!

Answer 21

@matt101 you mentioned that subshell can be subdivided into orbitals.
I do not understand the difference between subshell and orbital. They are named by s,p,d,and f. I am confused, can you please explain me more about it?

Answer 22

Orbitals are NOT named s, p, d, f (I think someone said that before but it's incorrect). These letters refer to the SUBSHELLS only. The orbitals are numbered as +/- the azimuthal quantum number (q.n.) of whatever shell they're a part of:

The s subshell (azimuthal q.n. = 0) has 1 orbital. This orbital's magnetic q.n. = 0.
The p subshell (azimuthal q.n. = 1) has 3 orbitals. The orbitals' magnetic q.n. = -1, 0, +1.
The d subshell (azimuthal q.n. = 2) has 5 orbitals. The orbitals' magnetic q.n. = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2.
The f subshell (azimuthal q.n. = 3) has 7 orbitals. The orbital's magnetic q.n. = -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3.

Does that help at all?

Answer 23

Yes it definitely helpful. The thing is in the class, my teacher is keep saying p orbitals and etc. That is why I was confused.

Basically, from the information you mentioned, orbitals are located in subshell. Each subshell has different number of orbitals depending on the number of energy level and quantum number ? Is that right?

Answer 24

Yes exactly - to clarify, each energy level has a different number of subshells, and each subshell has a different number of orbitals. You can specify each using quantum numbers (but if you didn't learn that don't worry too much about it yet).

Answer 25

Ok just one quick question about these The p subshell (azimuthal q.n. = 1) has 3 orbitals. The orbitals' magnetic q.n. = -1, 0, +1.
What do -1, 0, +1 represent here?

Answer 26

There are 3 different orbitals in the p subshell. Each orbital is dumbbell shaped, and they're all perpendicular to one another:

http://www.grandinetti.org/resources/Teaching/Chem121/Lectures/OrbitalHybridization/sandporbitals.gif

The +1, 0, and -1 just specify each of the 3.

Answer 27

Everything you mentioned is correct. The thing is I guess in my Chemistry textbook it just does not get into subshells because of this
(The first orbital in an energy level is named by later ‘’s’’. Second energy level has 4 orbitals: one 2s orbital, and three 2p orbitals)
I found this in my textbook.

Answer 28

I do not know why did happen. I had difficulty with posting it.

Answer 29

I do not know why it happens. Wait

Answer 30

Second energy level has 4 orbitals. one 2s orbital and three 2p.

Answer 31

Is it correct based on the information we talked about?

Answer 32

"Second energy level has 4 orbitals: one 2s orbital, and three 2p orbitals."

That's right. 4 orbitals TOTAL. Second energy level has 4 orbitals: 1 from the 2s SUBSHELL, and 3 from the 2p SUBSHELL.

Answer 33

Now I get it! :)

Answer 34

The 2s just means the s subshell of energy level 2. The 2p means the p subshell of energy level 2.

Answer 35

Great!

Answer 36

You are the best and patient tutor ever. Thank you!

Answer 37

Haha no problem glad I could help!