Question

In a given energy level, the order of penetration effect of different orbitals is:

• A. $f<p<d<s$
• B. $s<p<d<f$
• C. $f<d<p<s$
• D. $s=p=d=f$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $f<d<p<s$

Penetration describes the proximity to which an electron can approach to the nucleus. In a multi-electron system, electron penetration is defined by an electron's relative electron density (probability density) near the nucleus of an atom . Electrons in different orbitals have different electron densities around the nucleus. In other words, penetration depends on the shell (n) and subshell (l). For the same value of n, the increasing order of penetrating power is
$s>p>d>f$ . More diffused the subshell, poor is the penetrating effect.