Which sublevel has a spherical shape?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which electron sublevel has a spherical shape. This is a concept from chemistry, specifically atomic structure and electron configuration. Each sublevel (s, p, d, f) corresponds to a different shape of the electron's probability distribution around the nucleus.
Answer
The s sublevel is spherical in shape.
The s sublevel has a spherical shape. Each energy level contains one s orbital, which can hold up to two electrons. The s orbital exhibits symmetry and lacks a preferred spatial orientation.
Answer for screen readers
The s sublevel has a spherical shape. Each energy level contains one s orbital, which can hold up to two electrons. The s orbital exhibits symmetry and lacks a preferred spatial orientation.
More Information
The s orbital is the lowest energy state for an electron in an atom. The higher s orbitals (2s, 3s, etc.) have a more complex radial distribution with additional spherical nodes.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing sublevels with orbitals. The s sublevel contains only one s orbital. The p sublevel contains 3 p orbitals, the d sublevel contains 5 d orbitals and the f sublevel contains 7 f orbitals.
Sources
- Shapes of Orbitals and Sublevels - kentchemistry.com
- 4.8: Orbital Shape - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
- s,p,d,f Orbitals - Chemistry - Socratic - socratic.org
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