Question
The orbitals are called degenerate when
A.
they have the same wave functions
B.
they have the same wave functions but different energies
C.
they have different wave functions but same energy
D.
they have the same energy
Answer :
they have the same energy
Solution :
The orbitals having the same energy energy but different in orientation, are called degenerate orbitals. $$e.g.$$ $$3d$$ - orbital, $$l = 2,\,m = - 2, - 1,0, + 1, + 2,$$ i.e. there are five different orientations represented by $${d_{xy}},{d_{yz}},{d_{zx}},{d_{{x^2} - {y^2}}}$$ and $${d_{{z^2}}}.$$