The shell having n=3 contains how many subshells?

1 Answer
Oct 30, 2015

3 subshells.

Explanation:

I have written a similar answer to this question, I will copy it here I hope it helps:

Shell is the energy level of an atom (#n=1, 2, 3, etc.#). Inside every shell there is one or more subshells (#s, p, d, f, etc.#). Inside every subshell there is one or more orbitals .

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The best way to explain this is using the quantum numbers:
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where,
#n#: principal quantum number
#l#: Angular momentum quantum number

The #s# subshell contains 1 orbital.
The #p# subshell contains 3 orbitals.
The #d# subshell contains 5 orbitals.
The #f# subshell contains 7 orbitals.