Answer :
Final answer:
The correct order of increasing energy for the electron subshells 2p, 4s, 3s, 3p is 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s. This is derived from the known patterns and exceptions in electronic configurations known in chemistry.
Explanation:
The electron subshells listed in order of increasing energy are 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s. According to the provided information and general rules for electron configurations and filling orders, electrons fill up orbital subshells in a specific order, dictated largely by the principal quantum number (n) and azimuthal quantum number (l). Early in the periodic table, this order can be understood as a sequence following the rule of increasing n value, with increasing l value within a shell following the order s < p < d < f. However, there are exceptions and overlaps that occur with larger atoms; for instance, the 4s subshell fills before the 3d subshell, meaning that 4s is of lower energy than 3d.
Considering these principles, we can determine the order of increasing energy for the given subshells. Thus, for the subshells 2p, 4s, 3s, 3p, the correct order of increasing energy is: 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s (option b).
