Question

Which of the following set of quantum numbers (ordered n, ℓ, mℓ, ms) are possible for an electron in an atom? Check all that apply. 3, 1, -2, -1/2.....2, 4, 1, -1/2.....2, 1, 0, -1.....5, 3, 4, 1/2.....4, 2, 1, -1/2.....-4, 3, 1, 1/2..... 4, 2, -2, 1/2..... 2, 1, 0, 1/2

Answer 1

- The principal quantum number, or n tells about the shell in which electron is lying.

-The angular momentum quantum number, tells about the subshell, or orbital in which electron is residing.

It can have values 0,1,2,3 for s, p, d, f orbitals

- ml tells about the orientation of the orbital.

The accepted values for ml range from -l to +l.

- ms tells about the spin of the electron. It can have values +1/2 and - 1/2.

So, possible set of quantum number from given data are:

3, 1, -2, -1/2........not possible because ml value can only be range from - l to +l.

..2, 4, 1, -1/2....... Not possible beacuse l= 4 not defined.

.2, 1, 0, -1....... Not possible because ms can only have values - 1/2, +1/2.

...5, 3, 4, 1/2...... not possible beacuse ml can only range from -l to +l.

.4, 2, 1, -1/2....... Possible

..-4, 3, 1, 1/2..... Not possible beacuse n can't have negative values

.. 4, 2, -2, 1/2........ Possible

2, 1, 0, 1/2.... Possible