Question

How many angular nodes are in 5p orbitals?

Answer 1

There are multiple orbitals within an atom. Each has its own specific energy level and properties. Because each orbital is different, they are assigned specificquantum numbers:  1s, 2s, 2p 3s, 3p,4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p. The numbers, (n=1,2,3, etc.) are called principal quantum numbers and can only be positive numbers. The letters (s,p,d,f)  represent the orbital angular momentum quantum number (ℓ) and the orbital angular momentum quantum number may be 0 or a positive number, but can never be greater than n-1. Each letter is paired with a specific ℓ value:

s: subshell = 0

p: subshell = 1

d: subshell = 2

f:  subshell = 3

An orbital is also described by its magnetic quantum number (mℓ). The magnetic quantum number can range from –ℓ to +ℓ. This number indicates how many orbitals there are and thus how many electrons can reside in each atom.

Orbitals that have the same or identical energy levels are referred to as degenerate. An example is the 2p orbital: 2px has the same energy level as 2py. This concept becomes more important when dealing with molecular orbitals. The Pauli exclusion principlestates that no two electrons can have the same exact orbital configuration; in other words, the same quantum numbers. However, the electron can exist in spin up (ms= +1/2) or with spin down (ms = -1/2) configurations. This means that the s orbital can contain up to two electrons, the p orbital can contain up to six electrons, the d orbital can contain up to 10 electrons, and the f orbital can contain up to 14 electrons.

 s subshellp subshelld subshellf subshellTable 1: Breakdown and Properties of Subshells ℓ = 0   ℓ = 1ℓ = 2  ℓ = 3mℓ = 0   mℓ= -1, 0, +1mℓ= -2, -1, 0, +1, +2mℓ= -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3One s orbitalThree p orbitalsFive d orbitals Seven f orbitals2 s orbital electrons6 p orbital electrons10 d orbital electrons14 f orbital electrons