Question

How many p-orbitals are occupied in a $\mathrm{K}$atom?

Answer 1

Potassium(K):

• Potassium is an alkali metal with an atomic number $19$ and atomic mass of $39$.
• It is placed in the first group and fourth period.
• It has an electronic configuration of $1{\mathrm{s}}^2,2{\mathrm{s}}^2,2{\mathrm{p}}^6,3{\mathrm{s}}^2,3{\mathrm{p}}^6,4{\mathrm{s}}^1$.
• The region or space around the nucleus where the probability of a finding of the electron is called orbitals.
• From the electronic configuration, we can see that $2\mathrm{p}$ and $3\mathrm{p}$ sublevels are entirely occupied because each of them has six electrons.
• Since there are three p-orbitals altogether for each p sublevel (${\mathrm{p}}_{\mathrm{x}}$, ${\mathrm{p}}_{\mathrm{y}}$ and ${\mathrm{p}}_{\mathrm{z}}$), total of six p-orbitals are occupied in $\mathrm{K}$ atom i.e. three from $2\mathrm{p}$ and three from $3\mathrm{p}$.

Therefore, there are six p-orbitals are occupied in an $\mathrm{K}$ atom.