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What is the total number of orbitals containing electrons in a nitrogen atom?

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 5

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

A nitrogen atom has a total of five orbitals containing electrons, including one 1s orbital, one 2s orbital, and three 2p orbitals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The total number of orbitals in a nitrogen atom containing electrons can be determined by considering its electronic configuration. Nitrogen has seven electrons, which fill the orbitals as follows: 1s2, 2s2, and 2p3. Here we see that the 1s orbital is fully occupied with two electrons, the 2s orbital is also fully occupied with two electrons, and the three 2p orbitals have one electron each. Counting up the orbitals, we have one 1s, one 2s, and three 2p orbitals, making a total of five orbitals containing electrons. Therefore, the correct answer is d. 5.

User Steve Stokes
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