Question

The various orbitals within a sublevel of a principle energy level are always of ________ energy.

a) Different
b) Equal
c) Increasing
d) Decreasing

Answer 1

The various orbitals within a sublevel of a principle energy level are always of option a:different energy. The energy of atomic orbitals increases as the principal quantum number, n, increases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The various orbitals within a sublevel of a principle energy level are always of option a:different energy.

The energy of atomic orbitals increases as the principal quantum number, n, increases. In any atom with two or more electrons, the repulsion between the electrons makes energies of subshells with different values of l differ so that the energy of the orbitals increases within a shell in the order s < p < d < f. For example, the 1s orbital has the lowest energy, while the 2s, 2p, 3s, and 3p orbitals have increasing energy levels.