A certain shell is known to have a total of 16 orbitals.Which shell is it?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The number of orbitals in a shell is given by the formula 2n^2, where n is the principal quantum number (shell number). For n = 4, the number of orbitals is 2(4)^2 = 2(16) = 32. However, the question seems to have a mistake in its formulation or in the choices provided, as none of the options directly match the question's premise. Based on the standard understanding of quantum mechanics and the provided options, n = 4 is the closest to being correct because it implies a higher number of orbitals compared to the other options, but the calculation for the total number of orbitals for n = 4 actually gives 32, not 16 as stated in the question.

A Certain Shell Is Known to Have a Total of 16