# what happens to an electrons orbital when it absorbs a photon

so I just learned about orbitals and hybridization theory through youtube and I have one question.

if I have a hydrogen with one electron, the electron is in a 1s orbital, but then if that electron absorbs a photon and it goes up an orbital will it only increase to other 's' orbitals or would it, for example, go to a 'p' orbital?

There are selection rules. $$\Delta l=\pm 1$$ and $$\Delta m_l=\pm 1,0$$. Hence electron can go to the p orbital but it cannot go to the s orbital. Because $$s$$ orbital would correspond to the $$l=0$$. But the electron was in already $$l=0$$. So it has to go $$l=1$$ orbital to satify the selection rule condition.
So it cannot go $$2s$$ but it has to go $$2p$$.
• If its on 2p it can go to 3s. At $2p$, $l=1$ and at $3s$, $l=0$ so change in the $l$ is 1, hence we can pass. Yes you can apply it to any orbital it doesnt matter. But if its on $f$ it cannot go $s$ or $p$ its not allowed. But these are true for one photon emission/absorption case. – Reign Jan 24 at 8:04