Models of the Atom
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An atomic orbital is a region of space where
an electron can be found
There are energy levels existing outside the
nucleus
◦ These levels correspond to the periods of the
periodic table
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Each energy sublevel corresponds to orbitals
within a particular energy level
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Each sublevel corresponds to a different
shape
◦ s, p, d, f
◦ Orientations of sublevels are referred to as orbitals
 The s sublevel is a sphere and can only have one
orientation in space
 The p sublevel is dumb-bell shaped and can have
three orientations in space
 The d sublevel has clover-leaf shapes and has five
orientations
 The f sublevel is complex and can have seven
orientations
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Each orientation (orbital) of a sublevel can
have a maximum of two electrons
This means that:
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The s sublevel can house a maximum of 2 e3 orientations of p = 6e5 orientations of d = 10e7 orientations of f = 14e-
◦ The principal quantum number corresponds to the
number of sublevels that can exist for that element
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First energy level can only have one sublevel
(s) = 2eSecond energy level can have two sublevels
(s, p) = 10eThird energy level can have three sublevels (s,
p, d) = 18eFourth energy level can have four sublevels
(s, p, d, f) = 32e-