Quantum numbers

Quantum numbers

1. Principle (n)

   • Allowed values: 1, 2, 3, 4... infinity
   • SHELL
   • Related to energy and size of a shell
     • As n increases, the energy and size of the orbital increases

2. Angular momentum (l)

   • Allowed values: 0, 1, 2, 3... (n-1)
   • SUBSHELL
   • The number of subshells in shell n = number of l values = n

3. Magnetic (ml)

   • Allowed values: 0, +-1, +-2, +-3, ..... +-l
   • ORBITAL
   • Number of orbitals in a subshell l = number of ml values = 2l +1
   • Related to orientation in space of orbital

4. Spin (ms)

   • Allowed values: +1/2, -1/2
   • Pauli exclusion principle
     • No two electrons in an atom can have the same set of the four quantum numbers: n, l, ml, ms
       • Any orbital --> fixed values of n, l, ml
       • Any electrons in the same orbital have the same n, l, ml values
       • Electrons in the same orbital must differ by ms
       • Two possible values of ms --> max of 2 electrons/orbital