How many atomic orbitals are there in the 4p sublevel?

1 Answer
Stefan V.
Jan 19, 2015

Each energy level has 3 p-orbitals, each with its specific orientation along one of the three axes, x, y, and z.

The second energy level can only hold s and p-orbitals, the third energy level can hold s, p, and d-orbitals, and the fourth energy level, which includes the 4p sublevel, can hold s, p, d, and f-orbitals.

So, no matter if you're dealing with the second energy level or the fourth energy level, you will only get 3 p-orbitals per level.

http://pixgood.com/p-orbital-shapes.htmlhttp://pixgood.com/p-orbital-shapes.html

Thus, the fourth energy level has 3 p-orbitals: 4px, oriented along the x axis, 4py, oriented along the y axis, and 4pz, oriented along the z axis.

Here's a video showing how the s, p, and d-orbitals come together in an atom

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