Which orbital has five orbitals and can hold ten electrons?

Study for the ALEKS Placement Chemistry Exam. Review flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your chemistry exam!

The d orbital is characterized by having five distinct sub-orbitals, which can accommodate a total of ten electrons. Each d orbital can hold two electrons due to the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of quantum numbers.

The five d orbitals are often denoted as d_xy, d_xz, d_yz, d_x2-y2, and d_z2, and they are typically found in the energy levels n=3 and higher. In this context, each of these orbitals can hold up to two electrons, leading to the capacity of the entire d subshell to contain a maximum of ten electrons.

In contrast, the s orbital can hold only two electrons, the p orbital can hold six, and the f orbital can hold fourteen. Therefore, among the choices given, it is the d orbital that fits the criteria of having five orbitals and a capacity for ten electrons.

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