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08 Quantum Numbers
08 Quantum Numbers
After the quantum revolution started, many different ideas came about. Through countless experiments and theories, it was eventually determined that in order to fully describe an electron
around an atom, four quantum numbers were needed. These quantum numbers are basically the
electrons zip code. The four quantum numbers are:
n, l, m , m
l
Each of these quantum numbers can have different values according to the rules listed below:
n=4
n=1
n=5
Subshell: l = 0.. (n 1)
The subshell tells us the shape of the electron cloud or how many nodal planes are in the electron cloud. Each subshell has a number, shape, and a letter associated with it. The shape of the
cloud represents the probability of finding an electron in that space around the atom:
l =0
s subshells
0 nodal planes
For an s orbital, = 0, and has the general shape of a sphere. At successive energy levels,
the spheres get bigger and bigger but the shape is still the same.
l =1
p subshells
1 nodal plane
For a p orbital, = 1, and has the general shape of a dumbbell. It has 1 nodal plane, which is
a space of zero probability of finding the electron:
l =2
d subshells
2 nodal planes
For a d orbital, = 2, and has the general shape of a cloverleaf. It has 2 nodal planes, which
bisect the probability twice, leading to the general four-leaf clover shape:
l =3
f subshells
3 nodal planes
For an f orbital, = 3, and the shapes get quite complex. Imagine bisecting each of the cloverleafs above through the middle again:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/
of/2005/1219/
Orbital: m = -l . 0 . +l
l
The orbitals tells us the orientation of the electron cloud or how it is arranged around a central
point (the nucleus) in an x, y, z plane. The number of orientations is based upon the subshell or
l value.
l=0
l=1
l=2
l=3
The last thing we need to fully describe an electron is to know which way it is spinning.
Against an arbitrarily chosen plane, the electron is either spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. These are labeled as either +1/2 or 1/2. The reason it is 1/2 is well beyond the
scope of this class. Just go with it.
http://hcper71011.blogspot.com/2011/02/quantum-numbers.html
Summary:
Name
Shell
Letter
n
Value
1, 2, 3.
Significance
Tells energy and distance from nucleus
Subshell
0, 1. (n-1)
l=0 s
l=1 p
l=2 d
l=3 f
Orbital
ml
-l...0+l
Spin
ms
+1/2 or 1/2
Significance
So what do all these numbers mean? What do they have anything to do with Chemistry? They
seem pretty darn arbitrary and confusing. Where is this going?
Before I answer that, let me bring up one more concept that will help. There is another rule
called the Pauli Exclusion Principle that says that no 2 electrons in the same atom can have the
exact same 4 quantum numbers. As long as at least one of the numbers is different, it is a legal
arrangement. Lets start at the first energy level, n = 1 and see where it takes us.
n=1
l=0
n=1
l=0
m=0
n=1
l=0
m=0
m = +1/2 or 1/2
l
Now lets examine what we have. The Pauli Exclusion Principle says that as long as we can
write a unique set of 4 numbers, we have an electron. How many electrons do we have here at
the first energy level?
We have 2 sets of 4 quantum numbers here (1, 0, 0, +1/2) and (1, 0, 0, -1/2) so the first
n=1
energy level has 2 electrons in it.
l=0
m=0
m = +1/2
l
n=1
l=0
m=0
m = -1/2
l
Im sure youre still lost but stick with me here. Lets examine the 2nd energy level, n = 2.
n=2
l=0
n=2
l=1
n=2
l=0
m=0
n=2
l=1
m = -1, 0, +1
If n = 2 and l = 0, then m = 0
l
n=2
l=0
m=0
m = +1/2 or 1/2
n=2
l=1
m = -1, 0, +1
m = +1/2 or 1/2
ml
ml
ml
-1
ml
-1
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ml
ml
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ml
+1
ml
+1
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
There are 2
electrons here
There are 6
electrons here
You still probably dont see where this is going but bear with me for one more level.
n=3
l=0
n=3
l=1
n=3
l=2
n=3
l=0
m=0
n=3
l=1
m = -1, 0, +1
n=3
l=2
m = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
n=3
l=0
m=0
m = +1/2 or 1/2
n=3
l=1
m = -1, 0, +1
m = +1/2 or 1/2
n=3
l=2
m = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
m = +1/2 or 1/2
ml
ml
ml
-1
ml
-1
ml
-2
ml
-2
ml
+2
ml
+2
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ml
ml
ml
-1
ml
-1
ml
+1
ml
+1
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ml
+1
ml
+1
ml
ms
+1/2
ms
-1/2
ms
+1/2
There are 2
electrons here
There are 6
electrons here
There are 10
electrons here
I know, I know. What does this have to do with ANYTHING???!!!! GET TO THE POINT!
Lets recap what we learned in the past three pages:
1st Energy Level:
2nd Energy Level:
3rd Energy Level:
2 electrons
2 and 6 electrons to make 8 total
2 and 6 and 10 to make 18 total
4
5
4
5
But instead of looking at the whole thing, lets look at it row by row; or more to the point, energy level by energy level:
1
1st Energy Level:
2 elements
Does this sound familiar? It should. If we look at the listing above, we see the same thing.
Does this continue?
2
2nd Energy Level:
Holy cow! Our quantum model predicted exactly what we see here.
What is the pattern here? If we continue the trend and apply it to the Periodic table we see that
the table is broken into the groups we see here. Groups of 2, 6, 10, and 14:
1st Energy Level:
2nd Energy Level:
3rd Energy Level:
4th Energy Level:
2
2 and 6
2 and 6 and 10
2 and 6 and 10 and 14
Group of 10
Group of 2
Group of 6
Group of 14
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/1234245996_4c658ef54c.jpg
These are sections of the Periodic Table that contain elements that behave similarly to elements
in the rest of the section. Thus, we are going to designate each section with a letter to signify
what part of the table it is from. This is just like our baseball ticket that told us where to sit!