Quantum Numbers:

The numbers which designate and distinguish various atomic orbitals and
electrons present in an atom

1. Principle quantum number (n) :

It can have values between 1 and ∞
n = 1,2,3……………..
a) The principle quantum number determines the principle shell in
which the electron lies

n Shell
1 K
2 L
3 M
4 N
5 O
6 P

b) By knowing the value of n, energy of a particular shell for H and H

like atoms can be obtained using the equation
1312
En = - 2 kJ mol-1
n
c) By knowing the value of n, average radius of a particular shell can be
obtained.
r n = 0.529n2

2. Azimuthal quantum number(l) / Subsidiary / Secondary quantum

numbers
The value of l depends on the value of n
l can have positive integral value between 0 and n-1
The value of l = 0,1,2,…….(n-1)
a) The value of l determines the subshell to which the electron belongs

Value of l Subshell in which electron lies

0 s
1 p
 2 d
3 f
b) Since the value of l depends upon the value of n, the value of l
signifies the number of subshell a principle shell can possibly
possess.

Principle Value of n Permissible Possible Number of

shell value of l subshells subshells in
a shell
K 1 0 s 1
L 2 0,1 s, p 2
M 3 0,1,2 s, p,d 3
N 4 0,1,2,3 s,p,d,f 4

The subshells of a particular shell are specified by putting the value

of n before the symbol of subshell
n =2, l= 1, we have 2p subshells
n=3, l=0, we have 3s subshells
n=4, l=2 , we have 4d subshells
c) The value of l is responsible for a particuar shape of a particular
subshell
d) The angular momentum of an electron in a subshell can be calculated
using l
h
Angular momentum (L) = 2 π √ l(l+ 1)
3. Magnetic Quantum number(m)
m value is governed by the values of l
m = - l ,-l ,+1, -l ,+2……0,1,2…..,+l ,
For a value of l , m will have (2l +1) values
a) s – subshell , l = 0, m =0. The subshell contains only one orbital
b) p- subshell, l =1 , m= +1, 0, -1. The subshell contains three orbitals
designated as px, py and pz. x, y and z refer to coordinate axes.
In the absence of magnetic field, all the orbitals are equivalent in
energy are said to be three fold degenerate. In the presence of
magnetic field, they acquire different energies and their degeneracy
is removed
 c) d-subshell : l = 2, m= +2,+1, 0,-1,-2.
The subshell contains five orbitals designated as d xz, d xy, d yz ,d x − y , d Z .
2 2 2

The first three orbitals d xz, d xy, d yz are planar orbitals.

d x − y , d Z are axial orbitals
2 2 2

All the orbitals are equivalent in energy are said to be five fold
degenerate in the absence of magnetic field. In the presence of
magnetic field, they acquire different energies and their degeneracy
is removed

d) f –orbital , l=3, m= +3,+2,+1,0,-1,-2,-3. The subshell contains seven

orbitals.

4. Spin quantum number