How many atomic orbitals are there in the 4p sublevel?

1 Answer
Jan 19, 2015

Each energy level has 3 p-orbitals, each with its specific orientation along one of the three axes, x, y, and z.

The second energy level can only hold s and p-orbitals, the third energy level can hold s, p, and d-orbitals, and the fourth energy level, which includes the 4p sublevel, can hold s, p, d, and f-orbitals.

So, no matter if you're dealing with the second energy level or the fourth energy level, you will only get 3 p-orbitals per level.

http://pixgood.com/p-orbital-shapes.html

Thus, the fourth energy level has 3 p-orbitals: #4p_x#, oriented along the #x# axis, #4p_y#, oriented along the #y# axis, and #4p_z#, oriented along the #z# axis.

Here's a video showing how the s, p, and d-orbitals come together in an atom