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Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms
Chapter 6, Problem 66d

(d) For the hydrogen atom, list the following orbitals in order of increasing energy: 3s, 2s, 2p, 5s, 4d.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Quantum Numbers

Quantum numbers describe the properties of atomic orbitals and the electrons in them. The principal quantum number (n) indicates the energy level, while the azimuthal quantum number (l) defines the shape of the orbital. For example, s orbitals have l=0, p orbitals have l=1, and d orbitals have l=2. Understanding these numbers is essential for determining the energy hierarchy of orbitals.
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Aufbau Principle

The Aufbau principle states that electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals first before filling higher energy levels. This principle guides the order in which orbitals are filled in an atom, which is crucial for determining the electron configuration. For hydrogen, the order of increasing energy for the given orbitals follows this principle, allowing us to rank them accurately.
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Energy Levels and Sublevels

Energy levels in an atom are divided into sublevels (s, p, d, f) that have different energy states. The energy of these sublevels increases with the principal quantum number and the type of sublevel. For instance, within the same principal level, p orbitals are higher in energy than s orbitals, and d orbitals are higher than p orbitals. This hierarchy is essential for ordering the given orbitals by energy.
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