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Principal Quantum Number (N) : Energy Atoms Molecules Electron Atom Ion

The document discusses the four quantum numbers used to describe the energy levels and states of electrons in atoms and molecules. The four quantum numbers are the principal quantum number (n), which specifies the energy level and size of an orbital; the angular momentum quantum number (l), which specifies the shape of the orbital; the magnetic quantum number (ml), which specifies the orientation of an orbital; and the spin quantum number (ms), which specifies the spin direction of an electron. Together, the four quantum numbers uniquely define the state of each electron in an atom or molecule.

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Rey Vincent
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27 views

Principal Quantum Number (N) : Energy Atoms Molecules Electron Atom Ion

The document discusses the four quantum numbers used to describe the energy levels and states of electrons in atoms and molecules. The four quantum numbers are the principal quantum number (n), which specifies the energy level and size of an orbital; the angular momentum quantum number (l), which specifies the shape of the orbital; the magnetic quantum number (ml), which specifies the orientation of an orbital; and the spin quantum number (ms), which specifies the spin direction of an electron. Together, the four quantum numbers uniquely define the state of each electron in an atom or molecule.

Uploaded by

Rey Vincent
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Quantum Number - A number used when describing the energy levels available to atoms andmolecules.

An electron in an atom or ion has four quantum numbers to describe its state.

There are four quantum numbers: n - describes the energy level - describes the subshell m - describes the orbital of the subshell ms - describes the spin

Principal Quantum Number (n) Specifies the energy of an electron and the size of the orbital (the distance from the nucleus of the peak in a radial probability distribution plot)

Angular Momentum (Secondary, Azimunthal) Quantum Number (l) Specifies the shape of an orbital with a particular principal quantum number. The secondary quantum number divides the shells into smaller groups of orbitals called subshells (sublevels)

Magnetic Quantum Number (ml) Specifies the orientation in space of an orbital of a given energy (n) and shape (l). This number divides the subshell into individual orbitals which hold the electrons

Spin Quantum Number (ms) Specifies the orientation of the spin axis of an electron. An electron can spin in only one of two directions (sometimes called up and down). Pauli exclusion principle (Wolfgang Pauli, Nobel Prize 1945) states that no two electrons in the same atom can have identical values for all four of their quantum numbers. What this means is that no more than two electrons can occupy the same orbital, and that two electrons in the same orbital must have opposite spins.

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