Question

Identify which sets of quantum numbers are valid for an electron. Each set is ordered (n,?,m?,ms).

Check all that apply.

	4,3,4,-1/2
	2,3,1,1/2
	3,2,2,1/2
	3,2,1,0
	3,1,-1,1/2
	1,0,0,-1/2
	3,-2,-2,-1/2
	2,2,-1, 1/2
	2,2,1,-1/2
	2,1,-1,-1/2
	0,2,1,1/2
	4,2,1,1/2

Answer 1

Usual representation of quantum numbers is (n, l, ml, ms)

4,3,-4,1/2: X ml can range from -l to +l, -3 to +3 in the case, not -4
3,2,-1,-1/2: OK. This represents a 3d electron
2,-2,-2,-1/2: X l can range from 0 to n-1. Since n=2, l cannot = -2.
3,3,-1,1/2: X l can range from 0 to n-1. Since n = 3, l cannot = 3
2,1,-1,-1/2: OK. This represents a 2p electron
4,3,3,-1/2: OK. This represents a 4f electron
1,1,0,-1/2: X l can range from 0 to n-1. l can only be 0 since n=1
3,0,0,1/2: OK. This represents a 3s electron.
1,3.0,1/2: X l can range from 0 to n-1. l can only be 0 since n=1
3,1,-1,1/2: OK. This represents a 3p electron
0,2,1,1/2: X. The lowest n value is 1.
3,2,1,-1: X. The only possible values for ms are +1/2 and -1/2

and

Here are the rules:
n = 1, 2, 3, ... (it can't be 0)
l = 0, 1, ..., n-1. (It can be 0, and the maximum value is n-1). So any value less than 0 or equal to n or more is invalid.
ml goes from -l to +l. Any value less than -l or more than +l is invalid.
ms can be +1/2 or -1/2. Any value other than those two is invalid.

All you have to do is LOOK at them.