Now, the shell of an atom can be further divided into subshells, also known as sublevels, with each one assigned a variable letter. Alright. So we have our shell numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4. We're gonna say here that our subshells that can be linked to these are if it is 1, then the subshell letter that is possible is s. If n=2, then possible values are s and p. If n=3, then possible values are s, p, d. And if n=4, then the possible variables that exist are s, p, d, and f. So realize as that n value increases, the variable letters involved increase. Here, we're not going to go past the variable of f. So if we did n=5, we'd still be dealing with s, p, d, and f at that point. Okay? So just remember, these are your 4 variable letters that are possible tied to the shell number.
- 1. Matter and Measurements4h 29m
- What is Chemistry?5m
- The Scientific Method9m
- Classification of Matter16m
- States of Matter8m
- Physical & Chemical Changes19m
- Chemical Properties8m
- Physical Properties5m
- Intensive vs. Extensive Properties13m
- Temperature (Simplified)9m
- Scientific Notation13m
- SI Units (Simplified)5m
- Metric Prefixes24m
- Significant Figures (Simplified)11m
- Significant Figures: Precision in Measurements7m
- Significant Figures: In Calculations19m
- Conversion Factors (Simplified)15m
- Dimensional Analysis22m
- Density12m
- Specific Gravity9m
- Density of Geometric Objects19m
- Density of Non-Geometric Objects9m
- 2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
- The Atom (Simplified)9m
- Subatomic Particles (Simplified)12m
- Isotopes17m
- Ions (Simplified)22m
- Atomic Mass (Simplified)17m
- Atomic Mass (Conceptual)12m
- Periodic Table: Element Symbols6m
- Periodic Table: Classifications11m
- Periodic Table: Group Names8m
- Periodic Table: Representative Elements & Transition Metals7m
- Periodic Table: Elemental Forms (Simplified)6m
- Periodic Table: Phases (Simplified)8m
- Law of Definite Proportions9m
- Atomic Theory9m
- Rutherford Gold Foil Experiment9m
- Wavelength and Frequency (Simplified)5m
- Electromagnetic Spectrum (Simplified)11m
- Bohr Model (Simplified)9m
- Emission Spectrum (Simplified)3m
- Electronic Structure4m
- Electronic Structure: Shells5m
- Electronic Structure: Subshells4m
- Electronic Structure: Orbitals11m
- Electronic Structure: Electron Spin3m
- Electronic Structure: Number of Electrons4m
- The Electron Configuration (Simplified)22m
- Electron Arrangements5m
- The Electron Configuration: Condensed4m
- The Electron Configuration: Exceptions (Simplified)12m
- Ions and the Octet Rule9m
- Ions and the Octet Rule (Simplified)8m
- Valence Electrons of Elements (Simplified)5m
- Lewis Dot Symbols (Simplified)7m
- Periodic Trend: Metallic Character4m
- Periodic Trend: Atomic Radius (Simplified)7m
- 3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
- Periodic Table: Main Group Element Charges12m
- Periodic Table: Transition Metal Charges6m
- Periodic Trend: Ionic Radius (Simplified)5m
- Periodic Trend: Ranking Ionic Radii8m
- Periodic Trend: Ionization Energy (Simplified)9m
- Periodic Trend: Electron Affinity (Simplified)8m
- Ionic Bonding6m
- Naming Monoatomic Cations6m
- Naming Monoatomic Anions5m
- Polyatomic Ions25m
- Naming Ionic Compounds11m
- Writing Formula Units of Ionic Compounds7m
- Naming Ionic Hydrates6m
- Naming Acids18m
- 4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
- Covalent Bonds6m
- Naming Binary Molecular Compounds6m
- Molecular Models4m
- Bonding Preferences6m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds (Simplified)8m
- Multiple Bonds4m
- Multiple Bonds (Simplified)6m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Multiple Bonds10m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Ions (Simplified)8m
- Lewis Dot Structures: Exceptions (Simplified)12m
- Resonance Structures (Simplified)5m
- Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (Simplified)4m
- Electron Geometry (Simplified)8m
- Molecular Geometry (Simplified)11m
- Bond Angles (Simplified)11m
- Dipole Moment (Simplified)15m
- Molecular Polarity (Simplified)7m
- 5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
- Chemical Reaction: Chemical Change5m
- Law of Conservation of Mass5m
- Balancing Chemical Equations (Simplified)13m
- Solubility Rules16m
- Molecular Equations18m
- Types of Chemical Reactions12m
- Complete Ionic Equations18m
- Calculate Oxidation Numbers15m
- Redox Reactions17m
- Spontaneous Redox Reactions8m
- Balancing Redox Reactions: Acidic Solutions17m
- Balancing Redox Reactions: Basic Solutions17m
- Balancing Redox Reactions (Simplified)13m
- Galvanic Cell (Simplified)16m
- 6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 35m
- 7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
- Nature of Energy6m
- First Law of Thermodynamics7m
- Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions7m
- Bond Energy14m
- Thermochemical Equations12m
- Heat Capacity19m
- Thermal Equilibrium (Simplified)8m
- Hess's Law23m
- Rate of Reaction11m
- Energy Diagrams12m
- Chemical Equilibrium7m
- The Equilibrium Constant14m
- Le Chatelier's Principle23m
- Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)17m
- Spontaneous Reaction10m
- Entropy (Simplified)9m
- Gibbs Free Energy (Simplified)18m
- 8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
- Pressure Units6m
- Kinetic Molecular Theory14m
- The Ideal Gas Law18m
- The Ideal Gas Law Derivations13m
- The Ideal Gas Law Applications6m
- Chemistry Gas Laws16m
- Chemistry Gas Laws: Combined Gas Law12m
- Standard Temperature and Pressure14m
- Dalton's Law: Partial Pressure (Simplified)13m
- Gas Stoichiometry18m
- Intermolecular Forces (Simplified)19m
- Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties11m
- Atomic, Ionic and Molecular Solids10m
- Heating and Cooling Curves30m
- 9. Solutions4h 10m
- Solutions6m
- Solubility and Intermolecular Forces18m
- Solutions: Mass Percent6m
- Percent Concentrations10m
- Molarity18m
- Osmolarity15m
- Parts per Million (ppm)13m
- Solubility: Temperature Effect8m
- Intro to Henry's Law4m
- Henry's Law Calculations12m
- Dilutions12m
- Solution Stoichiometry14m
- Electrolytes (Simplified)13m
- Equivalents11m
- Molality15m
- The Colligative Properties15m
- Boiling Point Elevation16m
- Freezing Point Depression9m
- Osmosis16m
- Osmotic Pressure9m
- 10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
- Acid-Base Introduction11m
- Arrhenius Acid and Base6m
- Bronsted Lowry Acid and Base18m
- Acid and Base Strength17m
- Ka and Kb12m
- The pH Scale19m
- Auto-Ionization9m
- pH of Strong Acids and Bases9m
- Acid-Base Equivalents14m
- Acid-Base Reactions7m
- Gas Evolution Equations (Simplified)6m
- Ionic Salts (Simplified)23m
- Buffers25m
- Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation16m
- Strong Acid Strong Base Titrations (Simplified)10m
- 11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
- BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
- BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
- 12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
- 13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
- 14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
- 15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
- 16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
- 17. Amines38m
- 18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
- 19. Enzymes1h 37m
- 20. Carbohydrates1h 46m
- Intro to Carbohydrates4m
- Classification of Carbohydrates4m
- Fischer Projections4m
- Enantiomers vs Diastereomers8m
- D vs L Enantiomers8m
- Cyclic Hemiacetals8m
- Intro to Haworth Projections4m
- Cyclic Structures of Monosaccharides11m
- Mutarotation4m
- Reduction of Monosaccharides10m
- Oxidation of Monosaccharides7m
- Glycosidic Linkage14m
- Disaccharides7m
- Polysaccharides7m
- 21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
- 22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
- 23. Lipids2h 26m
- Intro to Lipids6m
- Fatty Acids25m
- Physical Properties of Fatty Acids6m
- Waxes4m
- Triacylglycerols12m
- Triacylglycerol Reactions: Hydrogenation8m
- Triacylglycerol Reactions: Hydrolysis13m
- Triacylglycerol Reactions: Oxidation7m
- Glycerophospholipids15m
- Sphingomyelins13m
- Steroids15m
- Cell Membranes7m
- Membrane Transport10m
- 24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
- 25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
- 26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m
- Intro to Nucleic Acids4m
- Nitrogenous Bases16m
- Nucleoside and Nucleotide Formation9m
- Naming Nucleosides and Nucleotides13m
- Phosphodiester Bond Formation7m
- Primary Structure of Nucleic Acids11m
- Base Pairing10m
- DNA Double Helix6m
- Intro to DNA Replication20m
- Steps of DNA Replication11m
- Types of RNA10m
- Overview of Protein Synthesis4m
- Transcription: mRNA Synthesis9m
- Processing of pre-mRNA5m
- The Genetic Code6m
- Introduction to Translation7m
- Translation: Protein Synthesis18m
Electronic Structure: Subshells - Online Tutor, Practice Problems & Exam Prep
The shell of an atom is divided into subshells, or sublevels, identified by letters. For shell number n=1, the subshell is s; for n=2, it includes s and p; for n=3, s, p, and d; and for n=4, s, p, d, and f. As n increases, the number of subshells also increases, but it does not exceed f. Understanding these subshells is crucial for grasping electron configurations and the behavior of elements in chemical reactions.
Subshell designation gives the shape of an orbital within a subshell.
Electronic Structure:Subshells
Electronic Structure: Subshells Concept 1
Video transcript
Electronic Structure: Subshells Example 1
Video transcript
What are the possible values for n and subshell letter for an electron found in the 3rd energy level and d sublevel? Alright. So we're going to say here that if you are a third energy level or 3rd shell number, that means your n = 3. So automatically a is out and c is out. The answer is either b or d. Next, it tells me that I'm dealing with a d sublevel. Well, remember, a sublevel, a subshell, they're the same thing. So it's telling me the variable for the sublevel and therefore the subshell. They'd be the same. So the subshell letter would still be d. That means that my answer has to be option b. So that'd be the correct answer out of all the choices that are given.
PRACTICE: Provide the identity of an orbital that is in the fourth shell and has a value of for l that is 3.
3f
2p
4p
4f
4d
How many sublevels are contained in the third shell (n = 3) for a given atom?
Do you want more practice?
Here’s what students ask on this topic:
What are the subshells associated with each principal quantum number (n)?
The subshells associated with each principal quantum number (n) are as follows: For n=1, the subshell is s; for n=2, the subshells are s and p; for n=3, the subshells are s, p, and d; and for n=4, the subshells are s, p, d, and f. As the principal quantum number increases, the number of subshells also increases, but it does not go beyond the f subshell. This pattern is crucial for understanding electron configurations and the behavior of elements in chemical reactions.
How do subshells relate to electron configurations?
Subshells play a critical role in electron configurations, which describe the distribution of electrons in an atom. Each subshell (s, p, d, f) can hold a specific number of electrons: s can hold 2, p can hold 6, d can hold 10, and f can hold 14. Electrons fill these subshells in a specific order, following the Aufbau principle, Hund's rule, and the Pauli exclusion principle. Understanding subshells helps predict the chemical properties and reactivity of elements.
Why do the number of subshells increase with the principal quantum number?
The number of subshells increases with the principal quantum number (n) because each higher energy level can accommodate more complex shapes and orientations of electron clouds. For n=1, only the s subshell is possible. For n=2, both s and p subshells are possible. For n=3, s, p, and d subshells are possible. For n=4, s, p, d, and f subshells are possible. This increase allows for a greater number of electrons to be accommodated in higher energy levels, which is essential for the structure and stability of larger atoms.
What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy a subshell?
The maximum number of electrons that can occupy a subshell depends on the type of subshell: s subshell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, p subshell can hold a maximum of 6 electrons, d subshell can hold a maximum of 10 electrons, and f subshell can hold a maximum of 14 electrons. This is determined by the number of orbitals in each subshell and the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that each orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons with opposite spins.
How do subshells affect the chemical properties of elements?
Subshells affect the chemical properties of elements by determining the arrangement of electrons, which in turn influences how atoms interact with each other. The valence electrons, or the electrons in the outermost subshells, play a key role in chemical bonding and reactivity. Elements with similar subshell configurations often exhibit similar chemical properties. For example, elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar valence electron configurations, leading to similar chemical behaviors.