What is the Pauli Exclusion Principle, and how does it lead to the conclusion that at most two electrons can occupy an orbital?

1 Answer
SupernovaT · Truong-Son N.
Nov 16, 2017

In a chemistry based context (i.e. electrons in an atom) Pauli's exclusion principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have all four quantum numbers match.

Explanation:

So even if two electrons are in the same orbital of an atom and so have the same principal quantum number (n), angular momentum quantum number (ℓ), and magnetic quantum number (#m_ℓ#) there magnetic spin state (#m_s#) must be different and so as a result have opposing spin states - +1/2 and -1/2.

This principle outlines why electrons have to occupy differing energy levels - as in, after two electrons have occupied a #1s^2# orbital, a further electron must enter another orbital in order to not violate pauli's exclusion principle.

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