ATOMIC STRUCTURE

3.3 - Arrangement of Electrons

3.3.3 - The Quantum Mechanical Model of the Atom

Sublevels

According to calculations in quantum mechanics, each energy level of an atom consists of one or more sublevels. The principle energy level, n, determines the number of sublevels in that priniciple energy level.

For example,

• the number of sublevels in principal energy level 1 (n=1) is 1 sublevel
• the number of sublevels in principal energy level 2 (n=2) is 2 sublevels
• the number of sublevels in principal energy level 3 (n=3) is 3 sublevels
• the number of sublevels in principal energy level 4 (n=4) is 4 sublevels

Labelling of Sublevels

The sublevels have labels s, p, d, and f. In terms of energy of the electrons in the sublevels, electrons in a s sublevel has the lowest energy follow by electrons in the p sublevel, then electrons in the d sublevel. Of all the sublevels, electrons in the f sublevel has the highest energy.

Rollover the image below to find out the maximum number of electrons that each sublevel can accommodate.

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