An electrons in a hydrogen atom finds itself in the fourth energy level.
(i) Write down a list of the orbits that it might be in.
(ii) Can it be in all of these orbitals at once?
(iii) Can you tell which orbital it is in ?

Answer

(i) `4s, 4P, 4d, 4f`
(ii) No, it will only be in one of them.
(iii) No. For the hydrogen atom all orbitals with the same principal quantum number have the same energy (they are degenerate).

Explanation

(i) `4s, 4P, 4d, 4f`
(ii) No, it will only be in one of them.
(iii) No. For the hydrogen atom, all orbitals with the same principal quantum number have the same energy (they are degenerate).
(i) `4s, 4P, 4d, 4f`