Which orbital has the lowest energy?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the electron orbitals in an atom and which one holds the lowest energy level. This typically relates to quantum chemistry concepts and the arrangements of electrons in an atom.
Answer
1s orbital
The final answer is 1s orbital
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is 1s orbital
More Information
In every atom, the 1s orbital is the closest orbital to the nucleus, making it the most stable and the lowest in energy.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume that the term 'lowest energy orbital' might change depending on the element, but across all elements, the 1s orbital is consistently the lowest in energy.
Sources
- Studypug - Atomic Orbitals and Energy Levels - studypug.com
- Chemistry LibreTexts - Orbital Energies - chem.libretexts.org
- BYJU'S - What is the lowest energy orbital? - byjus.com