The terms "subshell" and "orbital" refer to different aspects of atomic structure:
Subshell: A subshell is a subdivision within an electron shell. Electron shells are designated by principal quantum numbers (n), such as 1, 2, 3, and so on. Each shell is further divided into subshells, which are denoted by a letter: s, p, d, f, and beyond. These letters represent different types of subshells with distinct shapes and orientations. Each subshell can hold a specific number of electrons.
Orbital: An orbital is a region of space where an electron is likely to be found. Orbitals describe the probability distribution of an electron's location around the nucleus. They are characterized by their shape, energy, and orientation. Orbitals are labeled by combining the subshell letter with a numerical superscript, indicating the number of that specific orbital within the subshell. For example, within the 2p subshell, there are three orbitals designated as 2pₓ, 2pᵧ, and 2pz.
To clarify the relationship between subshells and orbitals:
Subshells contain one or more orbitals of the same type. For example, the s subshell contains a single s orbital, the p subshell contains three p orbitals, the d subshell contains five d orbitals, and the f subshell contains seven f orbitals.
All orbitals within a given subshell have the same energy, shape, and orientation. However, they differ in their spatial distribution.
The number of orbitals within a subshell depends on the subshell type. The s subshell contains only one orbital, the p subshell contains three orbitals, the d subshell contains five orbitals, and the f subshell contains seven orbitals.
In summary, subshells are divisions within an electron shell, while orbitals are the specific regions within a subshell where electrons are likely to be found. Subshells contain one or more orbitals of the same type, and the number of orbitals within a subshell varies based on the subshell type.