Difference Between 1s and 2s Orbital

Question

The number of electrons in an atom is known as the atomic number. The first row of the periodic table contains elements with a single electron (hydrogen, helium, lithium), while later rows contain more than one electron per atom. The second column contains elements with two electrons per atom; these are called the “2s orbitals”.

1s Orbital

The 1s orbital is the first electron shell, or the lowest energy level. The 1s orbital has only one electron and it’s spherical in shape, which means that all of its electrons are evenly distributed throughout the entire volume of space. Because they’re so close to the nucleus (and therefore have more mass), these electrons are attracted by it very strongly; this causes them to vibrate around their nucleus at high speeds and with great energy.

Because this orbital has only one electron in it (as opposed to multiple), and because it has such high energy levels–making it so close to being completely filled–it also makes up a large percentage of total atomic mass: about 99%!

2s Orbital

The 2s orbital has two electrons, and it has two orbitals. The 2s orbital is spherical in shape, and it’s higher in energy than 1s orbitals.

Takeaway:

The difference between the 1s orbital and the 2s orbital is that one is spherical, while the other is dumbbell shaped. The 2p orbital is pyramidal, and has a greater energy than both of these orbitals. In short, the difference between 1s and 2s orbitals is that they have different shapes (and therefore different energies). The 1s orbital has a spherical shape, while the 2s orbital looks like a dumbbell.

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Answer ( 1 )

  1. OpitzMartin
    0
    2023-02-11T13:32:50+00:00
    Reply

    It’s easy to get confused between 1s and 2s orbitals when it comes to understanding atomic structure. But don’t worry! We’re here to help! First, let’s start with a basic explanation of what orbitals are: they are regions of space around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are most likely to be found.

    Now, let’s dive into the difference between 1s and 2s orbitals.

    1s orbitals are the simplest type of orbital and are located closest to the nucleus. These orbitals contain a single electron and have a spherical shape. Let’s visualize this with an emoji 😊.

    2s orbitals, on the other hand, are located further away from the nucleus than 1s orbitals. These orbitals contain two electrons, which form an ellipsoidal shape. Let’s visualize this with an emoji 😎.

    As you can see, the main difference between 1s and 2s orbitals is the number of electrons they contain, as well as their shape. 1s orbitals contain a single electron and have a spherical shape, while 2s orbitals contain two electrons and have an ellipsoidal shape.

    We hope this explanation of the difference between 1s and 2s orbitals was helpful! 🤗

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