The order in which atomic orbitals are filled is based on what factor?

Explanation:

There are principles that guides the distribution of electrons into the energy levels in an atom. Some of the principles are:

1. The maximum number of electrons in the orbitals of sublevels are:

2 electrons for s-sublevel with one orbital

6 for p-sublevel with 3 orbitals

10 for d- sublevel with 5 orbitals

14 for f-sublevel with 7 orbitals.

The maximum number of electrons in an orbital is 2.

2. Aufbau principle: it states that sublevels with lower energy are filled up before those with higher energy. Sublevels have pattern of filling.

3. Pauli exclusion principle: it states that no two electrons can have the same set of the four quantum numbers.

4. Hund's rule of maximum multiplicity: electrons goes into degenerate orbitals of sub-levels singly before pairing starts.