Each Orbital Can Contain Only Two Electrons

The Chemistry of Art > 3. Electrons in the Atom > Each Orbital Can Contain Only Two Electrons >

Identify that each orbital can contain only two electrons

Placement of electrons:

  • Maximum number of electrons a principal energy level can hold = 2n2
  • Every shell apart from n=1 has a number of energy sublevels or sub-shells with slightly different energies
  • Number of subshells in a shell = To principal quantum number of the shell
    • g n=3 has three subshells
  • Unlike Bohr model, quantum mechanical model shows precise location of electron with specific energy cannot be known
    • Instead linked to probability
  • Region of space through which an electron of given energy may move = Orbital
  • Each Orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons