Question

Which electron, on average, is closer to the nucleus: an electron in a 2s orbital or an electron in a 3s orbital?

a) 2s orbital
b) 3s orbital
c) Equally close
d) Not enough information

Answer 1

An electron in a 2s orbital is on average closer to the nucleus than an electron in a 3s orbital due to the lower principal quantum number indicating a smaller, lower-energy orbital.

Step-by-step explanation:

An electron in a 2s orbital is on average closer to the nucleus than an electron in a 3s orbital. The principal quantum number 'n' corresponds to the energy level of the electron, and as 'n' increases, so does the size of the orbital. As a result, electrons in a 2s orbital (n=2) spend more time closer to the nucleus compared to electrons in a 3s orbital (n=3), where the electron cloud extends further from the nucleus.