p-orbitals of an atom in presence of magnetic field are

Options

A. Two fold degenerate
B. Non degenerate
C. Three fold degenerate
D. None of these

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the p-orbitals of an atom in the presence of a magnetic field, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding p-Orbitals**:
- P-orbitals consist of three distinct orbitals: \( p_x \), \( p_y \), and \( p_z \). Each of these orbitals has the same energy when the atom is in a state without any external influences, such as a magnetic field.

2. **Definition of Degeneracy**:
- The term "degenerate" refers to orbitals that have the same energy level. In the case of p-orbitals, they are considered "three-fold degenerate" because there are three p-orbitals (\( p_x \), \( p_y \), and \( p_z \)) that share the same energy.

3. **Effect of Magnetic Field**:
- When a magnetic field is applied, the degeneracy of the p-orbitals can be affected. However, in the case of weak magnetic fields (as per the Zeeman effect), the p-orbitals remain degenerate because they are symmetrical and oriented in different directions.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, in the presence of a magnetic field, the p-orbitals remain three-fold degenerate, meaning they still have the same energy level despite the external magnetic influence.

### Final Answer:
The p-orbitals of an atom in the presence of a magnetic field are three-fold degenerate.

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