Summary BTEC applied science/forensic science unit 1 chemistry: electron sub-shells

Electron sub-shells
● Electrons inhabit spaces called orbitals
● Each shell is made up of atomic orbitals
● Each orbital can hold maximum two electrons
● There are four different types
○ s,p,d and f
Orbital - A region within an electron that can hold up to two electrons with opposite spins


● An orbital is a space where there
● is a high probability of finding an
electron
● An electron is a negative cloud in
● the shape of an orbital




s orbitals
● Spherical
● Each shell contains one s orbital
● Can hold max two s electrons in
each shell




p orbitals
● Dumb bell shaped
● Each shell from two upwards
contains three p orbitals
● Can hold maximum six p
● electrons in each shell




d orbitals
● Each shell from three upwards
contains five d orbitals
● Can hold max ten d electrons in
each shell

, Images sourced via wikipedia