In: Chemistry
Which of the following statements about atomic orbitals is false? a. A 1s orbital is spherically symmetrical. b. An atomic orbital may contain zero, one, or two electrons. c. A 2s orbital and a 2p orbital are equal in energy. d. A 2px orbital and a 2py orbital are equal in energy. e. A 2p orbital is not spherically symmetrical.
False statement
Ans: c. A 2s orbital and a 2p orbital are equal in energy
Both the principal quantum number (n) and azimuthal quantum number (l) determines the energy of the atomic orbitals. In the same nth orbit, orbital with higher l value will have higher energy. So 2p (n=2, l=1) is higher in energy than 2s (n=2, l=0).
Remaining options are all true.
s-orbitals are spherically symmetric.
An atomic orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons. It can have zero/one/two electrons.
2px, 2py and 2pz all have same energy, they are degenerate.
2p orbitals have dumb-bell shape along the respective axes. So they are not spherically symmetric.