Question

How many electrons are there in p-orbitals of silicon?
(A) 4
(B) 5
(C) 6
(D) 8

Answer 1

Hint: Silicon belongs to the group 16 (carbon family) in the modern periodic table. As we know, down the group the chemical properties of elements are the same so silicon resembles carbon in terms of chemical properties.

Complete step by step solution:
Atomic orbitals can be visualized in a very simple way. Consider a planet moving around the sun, its definite path, called an orbit, can be plotted. A simplified view of the atom looks similar, in which the electrons orbit around the nucleus of that atom. But, the truth is different; electrons, in fact, inhabit regions of space known as orbitals.
Each orbital has a name. The orbital occupied by the electron of a hydrogen atom is called a 1s orbital. The number "1" represents the fact that the orbital is in the energy level closest to the nucleus of the hydrogen atom. The letter ”s” indicates the shape of the orbital. Currently, the known orbitals are s, p, d and f but as we find a greater number of orbitals, we can name them as g, h, i, j and so on.
The s orbital is spherical in shape but unlike an s orbital, a p orbital point has a particular direction. .At any given energy level, we have three absolutely equivalent p orbitals pointing mutually perpendicular to each other.
As we know, the distribution of electrons in an atom is governed by its electronic configuration. Silicon has 14 electrons. While writing the electronic configuration of silicon, the first two electrons will go in the 1s orbital (which is the maximum limit of s orbital). Then the next two electrons will go in the 2s orbital. Next, sic electrons will go in the 2p orbital (which is the maximum limit of p orbital) and then the next two will go in 3s orbital followed by the rest 2 electrons which will go in the 3p orbital. So, the electronic configuration of the silicon atom is as follows:
$1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^6}3{s^2}3{p^2}$

Therefore, the correct answer is (D)- 8.

Note: Don’t get confused between orbits and orbitals. Orbit is a well-defined circular path around the nucleus in which electrons revolve whereas an atomic orbital is 3-dimensional spaces around the nucleus of an atom where the probability of finding an electron is maximum.