Question

Any p-orbital can accommodate up to:
A. four electrons
B. six electrons
C. Two electrons with parallel spins
D. two electrons with opposite spins

Answer 1

Hint:The symbol p stands for subshell which contains three orbitals. The solution to the question lies in the rules and principles of atomic structure.

Complete step by step answer:
The atomic structure of elements has several postulates. The first is Aufbau Principle which states the electrons in orbitals are filled in order of increasing energy levels of the shells. That means the lower energy orbitals are filled first then the higher energy orbital.
Then is the Hund's rule of maximum spin multiplicity, which states that the electrons in an orbital are singly filled until all the degenerate orbitals are half filled. Degenerate orbitals are the orbitals of the same energy. After that pairing will occur in each orbital but the spin of the electron will be in the opposite direction or antiparallel spin.
More than a maximum of two electrons can be present in a specific orbital whether it is s,p, d or f with opposite spin.
So option A and B are incorrect which says a p-orbital will accommodate four and six electrons. In fact a p-subshell will contain a maximum of six electrons.
 Two electrons with parallel spins is incorrect as it violates the Hund's rule of spin multiplicity and refers to the electrons present in an orbitals must be in antiparallel spins.
Two electrons with opposite spins is correct as it follows the Hund's rule.

So option D is the correct answer.

Note: A subshell has a number of orbitals present which are oriented in various directions.A subshell is a subdivision of electron shells separated by electron orbitals. Subshells are labelled s, p, d, and f in an electron configuration.