When talking about the semi-orbits around the pruton, I would like to knnow what the symbol letters S, P, D and F stand for.

The orbits are named after the characteristic shapes of the spectral lines of each type of orbit:

Sharp, Principal, Diffuse, Fundamental.

After that, they are named alphabetically, G, H, I, etc.

There are more than the s, p, d, f? I thought that these were the last ones? Do they come in from the 5th period?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Unknown008

There are more than the s, p, d, f? I thought that these were the last ones? Do they come in from the 5th period?

---

Theoretically there are as many orbitals as you like, just as you go further out the electrons are bound more weakly and so the atom is less likely to be stable.

I don't believe that any elements require more than an f-orbital in practice. (that we've discovered so far!).

I should add that the descriptions of the first 4 orbits that they have their names derived from has since been discredited. They just use those names now for historical reasons.

Oh! Ok then, thanks again Capuchin!