How many orbitals are found in the d subshell?

In quantum chemistry, subshells are categorized based on their angular momentum quantum number, denoted by "l". The d subshell corresponds to a value of l equal to 2. The number of orbitals in a subshell is determined by the formula (2l + 1).

For the d subshell:

• l = 2
• Thus, the number of orbitals = 2(2) + 1 = 5

This means that there are five distinct orbitals available within the d subshell. Each of these orbitals can hold up to two electrons, allowing for a total capacity of ten electrons across all five orbitals.

This fundamental understanding of electron configuration and the structure of atomic orbitals is crucial for grasping concepts across topics in both chemistry and biology related to electron arrangement, molecular bonding, and the behavior of atoms in different chemical environments.