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Orbitals are shaped depending on how many lobes there are.

- There is only 1 s orbital and the s orbital has 1 lobe

- There are 3 p orbitals and p orbitals have 2 lobes

- There are 5 d orbitals and d orbitals have 4 lobes, with a slight exception

to 1 orbital that looks like a p orbital but with a doughnut around it.

Since the s orbital has 1 lobe it is completely spherical.

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How many spatial orientations orbitals exist for an f sub-energy level?

There are seven spatial orientations for an f sub-level in an atom - one spherically symmetrical orbital, three dumbbell-shaped orbital pairs, and one more complex orbital shape.


Why is there only one spatial orientation for the s orbital?

The s orbital is spherically symmetrical, meaning it does not have distinct orientations in space. This symmetry arises from the wave function describing the s orbital, which does not depend on specific angles of rotation.


What are the four orbitals called in an atom?

Answer: s, p, d, and f -orbitals, differing in 'shape'.


Is this true or false the electron probability cloud for atomic orbitals are spherical in shape?

It is true only for s-orbital which is spherical in shape. p-, f- and d- orbitals are not spherical in shape.


What is the shapes of orbitals for which L equals 0 and L equals 1?

Assuming you mean l rather than L. (L is the total angular momentum of an atom in LS coupling, or the 2d principal energy shell in X-Ray spectroscopy)) l = 0 these are the spherically symmetric s orbitals l=1; these are the three p orbital of dumbell shape px, py, pz, which point along the x, y, z axes. s orbitals 2s and above have spherical nodes, a surface of zero probability. p orbitals have a node at the nucleus and for 3p and above radial node(s). Note the "shape" of orbitals as drawn in chemistry books is a representation of the electron density and shows the the volume that contains say 90% of the electron density when an electron occupies an orbital.

Related Questions

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How many spatial orientations orbitals exist for an f sub-energy level?

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The related adverb is spherically. It is formed from the adjective spherical (in the shape of a sphere).


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yes it is a symmetrical shape


Is the distribution of electrons in the d-orbital symmetrical or asymmetrical?

Symmetrical. See http://www.orbitals.com for pictures of all the orbitals


What type of symmetry means not symmetrical?

Asymmetry is when a shape is not symmetrical.


Why are atoms usually portrayed as spheres when most orbitals are not spherically shaped?

Only for easy understanding we imagine the shape of atom as spherical one. In reality electrons, protons and neutrons, all other subatomic particles are only in the form of fields. Hence shape is arbitrary. Molecules, with only a few exceptions, are not spherical.


Is T a symmetrical shape?

Symmetry is when something has exactly the same shape on either side of an axis line. T is a vertical symmetrical shape.


What is a orbitals shape?

oval


This shape has no straight sides It is symmetrical?

yes it can be a circle has no straight sides, but is symmetrical


Is a parallelogram a symmetrical shape?

yes it is