The number of possible orientations of d orbitals in space is 

Options

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5

Answer

To determine the number of possible orientations of d orbitals in space, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Quantum Numbers
The orientation of orbitals in space is described by the magnetic quantum number (m_l). For any given subshell, the value of m_l can take on various integer values.

### Step 2: Identify the Azimuthal Quantum Number (l)
For d orbitals, the azimuthal quantum number (l) is equal to 2. This indicates that we are dealing with d orbitals.

### Step 3: Calculate the Possible Values of m_l
The magnetic quantum number (m_l) can take values from -l to +l. Therefore, for l = 2, the possible values of m_l are:
- -2
- -1
- 0
- +1
- +2

### Step 4: Count the Values of m_l
Now, we can count the total number of possible values of m_l:
- The values are: -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
- This gives us a total of 5 values.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Since there are 5 possible values of m_l, there are 5 possible orientations of d orbitals in space. Therefore, the answer is 5.

### Final Answer
The number of possible orientations of d orbitals in space is **5**.

---