Organic Chemistry

Shells and Orbitals

As one progresses up through the shells (represented by the principal quantum numbern
) more types of orbitals become possible. The shells are designated by numbers. So the 2s
orbital refers to the s orbital in the second shell.

5.2.3 S orbital

Thes orbitalis the orbital lowest in energy and is spherical in shape. Electrons in this
orbital are in their fundamental frequency. This orbital can hold a maximum of two elec-
trons.

Figure 4