Question

Any p-orbital can accommodate up to:

• A. 2 electrons with opposite spins
• B. 4 electrons
• C. 6 electrons
• D. 2 electrons with parallel spins

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Any orbital can accomodate only two electrons having opposite (or) anti parallel spins.This is because of pauli's exclusion principle.

The four quantum numbers decide the quantum state of an electron.The electrons in the same orbital will have the first three quantum numbers the same it is only the spin quantum number which differs. (If for one electron the spin quantum number is +1/2 then for the other electron it must be -1/2). This is why there should be only two electrons in an orbital with anti parallel spins.