NEET Chemistry: Pauli's exclusion principle Practice Questions
14 free multiple-choice questions on Pauli's exclusion principle (Atomic Structure) for NEET Chemistry, each with the correct answer and a step-by-step explanation. Attempt a question, then reveal the solution to check your reasoning.
Practice thousands more NEET questions in the app →Q1. If an electron is present in an orbital, what is the fundamental constraint imposed by the Pauli's exclusion principle regarding other electrons in that same orbital?
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Correct answer: B — It must have opposite spin
The principle mandates that if two electrons share the same spatial location (same orbital), they must have opposite spin states.
Q2. How many electrons can be accommodated in a 2p subshell?
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Correct answer: B — 2
The 2p subshell has 3 orbitals (2pₓ, 2p_y, 2p_z). Since each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons (with opposite spins), the total capacity is 3 × 2 = 6 electrons.
Q3. Which of the following statements is a consequence of Pauli's exclusion principle regarding the filling of atomic orbitals?
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Correct answer: C — No two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.
Pauli's exclusion principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have identical quantum numbers. This principle fundamentally limits how electrons can be distributed among atomic orbitals, ensuring that only two electrons (with opposite spins) can occupy any single orbital.
Q4. Which pair of electrons can occupy the same spatial region (orbital) in an atom?
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Correct answer: C — Two electrons with opposite spins
According to the Pauli's Exclusion Principle, no two electrons in the same orbital can have the same spin. Therefore, they must have opposite spins (one spin up, one spin down) to satisfy the principle.
Q5. Which of the following statements correctly describes Pauli's Exclusion Principle?
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Correct answer: D — No two electrons can have the same four quantum numbers.
Pauli's Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the identical set of four quantum numbers (n, l, mₗ, mₛ).
Q6. Consider the 3d subshell. How many orbitals are available for accommodating electrons based on the Pauli principle?
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Correct answer: C — 9
The d subshell has 5 degenerate orbitals. According to the Pauli principle, each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons, allowing a total of 5 × 2 = 10 electrons. (The number of orbitals is 5).
Q7. The Pauli's Exclusion Principle dictates that electrons in the same orbital must have:
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Correct answer: B — Opposite spins
To satisfy the principle, the two electrons occupying the same spatial region (orbital) must have opposite magnetic spin quantum numbers (mₛ = +1/2 and mₛ = -1/2).
Q8. What is the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in a p-subshell?
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Correct answer: A — 6
The p-subshell has three orbitals (pₓ, p_y, p_z). According to the Pauli principle, each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons. Therefore, the total capacity is 3 × 2 = 6 electrons.
Q9. What is the fundamental principle that governs the distribution of electrons among atomic orbitals?
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Correct answer: D — Pauli's Exclusion Principle
Pauli's Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.
Q10. In an atomic orbital, the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated is determined by:
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Correct answer: D — The principal quantum number (n).
The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in a single orbital is two, and the Pauli's principle dictates that these two electrons must have opposite spins. This property is linked to the principal quantum number (n) which defines the energy level.
Q11. How many electrons can be exactly accommodated in a single atomic orbital?
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Correct answer: B — 2
According to the Pauli's Exclusion Principle, an orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons, and these two electrons must have opposite spins.
Q12. According to Pauli's exclusion principle, what is the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in a single orbital?
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Correct answer: C — 2
An orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons, and these two electrons must have opposite spins (one spin up, one spin down).
Q13. How many electrons can be present in a d subshell?
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Correct answer: C — 2
A d subshell consists of 5 orbitals (mₗ = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2). Since each orbital can hold 2 electrons, the total capacity is 5 × 2 = 10 electrons.
Q14. The Pauli's exclusion principle primarily restricts the arrangement of electrons based on which pair of quantum numbers?
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Correct answer: A — Magnetic quantum number and spin quantum number
The principle restricts the combination of all four quantum numbers (n, l, mₗ, mₛ). Specifically, it restricts the combination of mₗ and mₛ within the same spatial constraint.
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