Which statement about relative potential energy of electrons is correct?

A. An electron in the 2 p orbital of the second electron shell has more potential energy than an electron in the 2 s orbital of the second electron shell.

B. An electron in the 2 p orbital of the second electron shell has more potential energy than an electron in the 3 p orbital of the third electron shell.

C. An electron in the 3 p orbital of the third electron shell has more potential energy than an electron in the 2 p orbital of the second electron shell.

The correct answer is: C. An electron in the 3 p orbital of the third electron shell has more potential energy than an electron in the 2 p orbital of the second electron shell.

Electron shells or energy levels of the electrons are fixed distances from the nucleus of an atom where electrons may be found (electrons occupy only energy levels not the space between them). Electrons in the level 1 (K) have the lowest amount of energy, electrons at higher levels have more energy thet increases by a fixed, discrete amount. Electrons can jump to the higher level by absorbing energy or to a lower by releasing it in the form of light.

Option C, An electron in the 3 p orbital of the third electron shell has more potential energy than an electron in the 2 p orbital of the second electron shell.

Explanation:

There are different arrangements of orbits s, p, d and f, where s is the closest to the nucleus and has least energy as compared to other orbits. Also, even in p orbitals an electron which lies in 2p orbit is close to nucleus and hence has less energy as compared to electron lying in 3p orbit. Thus, the nearer the orbit lies to the nucleus, the lesser is the energy of the electron rotating in this orbit as they face the strongest force of positively charged nucleus.

Hence, option C is correct.