Question

Which principle states that a maximum of only two (2) electrons can occupy each orbital?

a) Hund's Rule
b) Pauli Exclusion Principle
c) Aufbau Principle
d) Bohr's Principle

Answer 1

The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no more than two electrons can occupy an orbital, and they must have opposite spins.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principle that states that a maximum of only two (2) electrons can occupy each orbital is known as the Pauli Exclusion Principle. This principle, proposed by physicist Wolfgang Pauli in 1925, fundamentally asserts that no two electrons can have the same set of quantum numbers and therefore cannot occupy the same quantum state within an atom. When two electrons do share an orbital, they must have opposite spins, which means their spin quantum numbers are different. This principle limits the number of electrons in a shell-subshell combination and is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics and atomic theory.