How many subshells are there in the third shell? The fourth shell? The fifth shell?

Question

Accepted Answer

Welcome back everyone determined the number of sub shells in the following. We have first shell, second shell and third shell. So what we are going to do is outline between our shell number, the sub shell associated with that shell number and the number of total sub shells that make up each shell number. So we're told that we have the first shell, second shell and third shell. Let's begin with our first shell, recall that in our first energy level on our periodic table. For an atom or the first shell we would go through our s sub shell. And so for the first energy level or first shell of any atom, we just have one single sub shell meaning that our total number of sub shells is just one again being our S sub shell. Next we have our second shell or energy level. And for an atom with a second shell in its configuration, we would go through not only our S sub shell, but we would also hit R. P. Block, meaning we hit our P sub shell for that atom to fill electrons in. We would then say that our total number of sub shells is a value of two. Again making up our S and P sub shop shell as a whole. And lastly we have our third shell number in which we should recall that for any atom that has a configuration going up to the third energy level, we would go through our S sub shell. We would go through our P sub shell and we should also recall that although our D block which contains our transition metals on our periodic table, begins at the fourth period of our periodic table. We should recall that even though begins at the fourth period, our energy level for the D. Block or D sub shell will begin at the third energy level or third shell. And so therefore our total number of shells for an atom with a configuration up to the third shell will have a total of three sub shells, each being R. S. P. And D. Sub shells. And so this is actually going to complete this example as our final answer, in which for the multiple choice which are correct answer would be choice B. We can confirm that our first shell contains a total of just one sub shell. Our second shell contains two sub shells and our third shell contains three sub shells. So what's highlighted in yellow is our final answer. And again B is the correct choice. So I hope that this made sense. And let us know if you have any questions

How many subshells are there in the third shell? The fourth shell? The fifth shell?

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Key Concepts

Electron Shells

Subshells

Quantum Numbers