What is the pattern of filling in the p orbitals?

1 Answer
Meave60
Jun 7, 2015

Each p orbital must have a single electron with parallel spin before adding another electron. The second electron, with opposite spin, is added to each orbital to complete the p sublevel. In reality, it doesn't matter which axis a p orbital is in. They all have equal energy and any one of them can be filled first. However, if the "p"_x, "p"_y, and "p"_z orbitals are present in an orbital diagram, start with the "p"_x orbital by convention.

The diagram below shows the orbital diagrams for the elements in the second period of the periodic table.

http://apocketmerlin.tumblr.com/post/20075430215/electronic-structure-the-basicshttp://apocketmerlin.tumblr.com/post/20075430215/electronic-structure-the-basics

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