Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Subshells are a division of electron shells separated by different quantum numbers. They are designated as s, p, d, and f.
Related terms
Shell: This is the energy level of an atom where electrons reside. It's like the "room" in our mansion analogy.
Quantum Numbers: These are values that describe the characteristics of electrons such as their energy level (shell), shape (subshell), orientation in space, and spin direction.
Orbital: This is a region within an atom where there's a high probability to find an electron. It's like specific spots within our subshell "areas".