Orbitals

We can apply our knowledge of quantum numbers to describe the arrangement of electrons for a given atom. We do this with something called electron configurations. They are effectively a map of the electrons for a given atom. We look at the four quantum numbers for a given electron and then assign that electron to a specific orbitals below.

Figure 1: s orbitals have no orientational preference and resemble spheres.

orbitals has a different orientation in three-dimensional space.

Figure 2 : p orbitals have an orientational preference and resemble dumbells. d Orbitals When l=2 , ml values can be −2,−1,0,+1,+2 for a total of five d orbitals. Note that all five of the orbitals have specific three-dimensional orientations.

Figure 3 :d orbitals have an orientational preference and exhibit complex structures. f Orbitals The most complex set of orbitals are the f orbitals. When l=3, ml values can be −3,−2,−1,0,+1,+2,+3 for a total of seven different orbital shapes. Again, note the specific orientations of the different f

orbitals.

Figure 4 : f orbitals have an orientational preference and exhibit quite complex structures.

Orbitals that have the same value of the principal quantum number form a shell. Orbitals within a shell are divided into subshells that have the same value of the angular quantum number. Some of the allowed combinations of quantum numbers are compared in Table 1:

Table 1: Electron Arrangement Within Energy Levels