The maximum number of electrons in a subshell depends on the number of orbitals in the subshell.
An orbital is a region in space where an electron is likely to be found. Each orbital can contain two electrons.
The diagrams below show that
For shells that contain both p and s orbitals, the electrons in p orbitals are of higher energy than the electrons in s orbitals.
An orbital is a region in space where an electron is likely to be found. Each orbital can contain two electrons.
The diagrams below show that
orbitals that are given the label s are spherical about the nucleus.
orbitals that are given the label p have the shape of a dumbbell with the nucleus being at the centre.
The three diffierent p orbitals have the same shape but their orientation in space is different.
orbitals that are given the label p have the shape of a dumbbell with the nucleus being at the centre.
The three diffierent p orbitals have the same shape but their orientation in space is different.
| Subshell | Number orbitals | Maximum number electrons | Orbital shape |
| s | 1 | 2 |  |
| p | 3 | 6 |    |
For shells that contain both p and s orbitals, the electrons in p orbitals are of higher energy than the electrons in s orbitals.
This is because, as the diagrams show, electrons in s orbitals can be at the nucleus (which is in the center of the sphere).
In contrast the region in space occupied by electrons in p-orbitals does not include the nucleus.
It is also important to appreciate that the different orbitals are all on the same atom so that the overall electron density is spherical about the nucleus.In contrast the region in space occupied by electrons in p-orbitals does not include the nucleus.