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General Chemistry 1
Quarter 2 - Module 1
Quantum Mechanical Description

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General Chemistry I- Grade 11
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Quarter 2 - Module 1: Quantum Mechanical Description
First Edition, 2020

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 Senior
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General
Chemistry 1
Quarter 2 - Module 1
Quantum Mechanical Description

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 Table of Contents

What This Module is About ....................................................................................................................... i

What I Need to Know .................................................................................................................................. i
How to Learn from this Module .............................................................................................................. .ii
Icons of this Module ................................................................................................................................... .ii

What I Know ..................................................................................................................................................iii

Quantum Numbers ........................................................................................................ 1

What I Need to Know ................................................................................ 1
What’s New: Fact or Bluff .......................................................................... 1
What Is It .................................................................................................. 2
What’s More: Let’s test your understanding…. .......................................... 4
What’s More: Identify the Orbital ............................................................... 5
What I Have Learned: How much have you learned? ................................ 5
What I Can Do: I am Electroman…. .......................................................... 5
Summary ....................................................................................................................................... ..7
Assessment: (Post-Test) ............................................................................................................. ..8
Key to Answers ............................................................................................................................. . 9
References .................................................................................................................................... .12
Module 1

What This Module is About

Early efforts by nineteenth-century physicists to comprehend atoms and

molecules met with only limited success. With the unwavering pursuit of scientists to
come up with different experiments and theories, the flurry of research that ensued
altered our concept of nature forever.

The use of quantum numbers to describe an electron in an atom is far

advantageous to scientists. Since it is very difficult to locate the exact position of an
electron in an atom, scientists use different theories and principles in quatum
chemistry. Hence, the electron’s location can now be estimated.

This module will focus on the discussion about Quantum Numbers. It

comprises concepts and activities that will help deepen your understanding of how
quantum numbers help in determining the location of an electron in an atom and how
it is relevant to our daily lives.

What I Need to Know

At the end of this module, you should be able to understand and apply the use
of quantum numbers to describe an electron in an atom (STEM_GC11ESIIa-b-54).

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How to Learn from this Module
To achieve the objectives cited above, you are to do the following:
• Take your time reading the lessons carefully.
• Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and exercises
diligently.
• Answer all the given tests and exercises.

Icons of this Module

What I Need to This part contains learning objectives that
Know are set for you to learn as you go along the
module.

What I know This is an assessment as to your level of

knowledge to the subject matter at hand,
meant specifically to gauge prior related
knowledge.
What’s In This part connects previous lesson with that
of the current one.

What’s New An introduction of the new lesson through

various activities, before it will be presented
to you

What is It These are discussions of the activities as a

way to deepen your discovery and under-
standing of the concept.

What’s More These are follow-up activities that are in-

tended for you to practice further in order to
master the competencies.

What I Have Activities designed to process what you

Learned have learned from the lesson

What I can do These are tasks that are designed to show-

case your skills and knowledge gained, and
applied into real-life concerns and situations.

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 What I Know

Pretest: MULTIPLE CHOICE:

Directions: Read and understand each item and choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What do you call the three-dimensional orientation of the orbital in space around the
nucleus?
A. magnetic quantum number C. electron configuration
B. principal quantum number D. geometry

2. Which quantum number indicates the relative size of an orbital?

A. magnetic quantum number C. electron configuration
B. principal quantum number D. geometry

3. Who are the founding fathers of Quantum Mechanics?

A. Werner Karl Heisenberg C. Isaac Newton
B. Erwin Schrodinger D. A & B

4. Which of the following combinations is allowed?

A. n=2, ℓ =1, ml= -1, ms= +1/2 C. n=3, ℓ =1, ml=-3, ms= -1/2
B. n=1, ℓ =1, ml= +1, ms= -1/2 D. None of the above

5. Who said that no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers?
A. Heisenberg C. Hund
B. Einstein D. Pauli

6. Which of the following symbolizes the spin of an electron?

A. mℓ C. n
B. ms D. ℓ

7. How many types of quantum numbers?

A. 6 C. 8
B. 2 D. 4

8. What does the magnetic quantum number describe?

A. distance of the most electron-dense C. number of electron
B. spatial orientation of the orbital D. shape of orbital

9. Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle states that the___ and ___ of an electron cannot
be known simultaneously. How does this statement be completed correctly?
A. position, momentum C. position, charge
B. momentum, speed D. position, mass

10. What does the quantum mechanical model describes electrons?

A. particles with wave-like properties C. particles
B. small, hard spheres D. waves

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 What I Need to Know

In your previous lesson, you were taught about subatomic particles or the
composition of an atom. They are the proton and neutron that are located inside, and
the electron that is located outside the nucleus. In this lesson, we will be focusing on
the characteristics of an electron since it has an important role in chemical bonding.
Since the electron is located outside the nucleus, it is difficult to determine its exact
location. That is why we have to learn about the behaviors of quantum particles. Of
these behaviors, the most we can do is to calculate probabilities as to the location and
behavior of the particles.
Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom suggests that the electron orbits the
nucleus like our solar system (e.g. the planets around the sun). However, the
quantum mechanical description of the hydrogen atom has proven that Bohr’s
model of electrons is incorrect. It states that we do not know exactly where the electron
is, but with high probability, we can conclude that the electron is most likely to be found
in an orbital (Chang, 2010). In this lesson, you should be able to describe the electrons
(e-) in orbitals using the four quantum numbers.

Figure 1. Bohr’s Model (Electron in orbit) Figure 2. Quantum Mechanics

(Electron in orbital)

According to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, it is impossible to determine

both the energy and position of an electron at the same time. Thus, as we know more
about the electron’s energy, we know less about its position and vice versa.

What’s New

Activity 1: Fact or Bluff

Directions: Carefully read the following statements below and write FACT if it is TRUE
and BLUFF if it is FALSE on the space provided on the left side.
_______1. The quantum mechanical description of the electron is more accurate than
that of Bohr’s model.
_______2. No two electrons have the same 4 quantum numbers.
_______3. We can both know the energy and the position of electrons at the same
time.
_______4. Any two electrons in the same orbital must have the same spins.
_______5. The four quantum numbers are used to describe the probable location of
an electron in an atom.

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GUIDE QUESTION:
What is the difference between Bohr’s model and the quantum
mechanical model of an electron? State your answer in 3-5 sentences only.

What Is It
To describe the orbitals in which electrons can be found, quantum
numbers are required. Quantum numbers are a set of values that give us information
about the location of electrons in the electron cloud of an atom. It can be used to
determine the electron configuration of an atom. According to the Pauli Exclusion
Principle, each electron in an atom has an exclusive set of quantum numbers and no
two electrons can have the same combination of four quantum numbers.
To fully characterize the movement and trajectories of each electron within an
atom, four quantum numbers are used. A wave function that obeys the Schrödinger
equation describes the combination of all quantum numbers of all electrons in an
atom. Each electron in an atom has its own set of quantum numbers, and no two
electrons may have the same four quantum numbers, according to the Pauli
Exclusion Principle. Quantum numbers are essential because they may be used to
figure out an atom's electron configuration and where its electrons are most likely to
be found. Other properties of atoms, such as ionization energy and atomic radius, are
also understood using quantum numbers.
The main quantum number (n), the orbital angular momentum quantum
number (l), the magnetic quantum number (ml), and the electron spin quantum number
(ms) are the four quantum numbers found in atoms. The energy of an electron and the
most likely distance of the electron from the nucleus are described by the primary
quantum number, (n). In other terms, it relates to the size of an electron's orbital and
the energy level it occupies. The form of the orbital is described by the number of
subshells (l) (Silberberg, 2013).

The Four Quantum Numbers

Table 1. Quantum numbers and their possible values

Quantum Number Symbol Possible Values
Principal Quantum Number n 1,2,3,4… (positive integers)
Angular Momentum Quantum Number ℓ 0,1,2,3… (0 to n-1)
Magnetic Quantum Number ml - ℓ,…-1,0,1…,+ ℓ
Spin Quantum Number ms +1/2, -1/2

1. Principal Quantum Number

The principal quantum number (n), describes the energy of an electron. It refers
to the energy level and the size of the orbital an electron is likely to be found. The
value of n starts from 1 to the shell containing the outermost electron of that atom. The

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larger the value of (n), the greater is the energy and the larger is the orbital. The group
of orbitals with the same value of n is called an electron shell. All the orbitals that have
n = 2, for example, are said to be in the second shell.
Carbon is in the second period of the periodic table, so, its outermost electron
is in the shell with an energy level of 2. Therefore, an electron in Carbon can have an
(n) value from 1 to 2.

2. Angular/Azimuthal Quantum Number

In chemistry, the angular quantum number (ℓ), defines the shape of an atomic
orbital. It also strongly influences bond angles and chemical bonds. It is defined in
chemistry that if ℓ = 0, it is called an s orbital, ℓ = 1 is a p orbital, ℓ = 2 a d orbital, and ℓ
= 3 an f orbital. The first p orbital (ℓ = 1) is in the second electron shell (n = 2), the first
d orbital (ℓ = 2) is in the third shell (n = 3), and so on. The set of orbitals that have the
same n and l values is called a subshell.

3. Magnetic Quantum Number

The magnetic quantum number (ml), describes the orientation of the orbital
in space and can have integral values between - ℓ and ℓ, including zero.
For example, the p subshell (ℓ = 1) contains three orbitals, so the m l of an
electron in a p subshell will be −1, 0, or 1.
The outermost electron of Carbon is in a 2p subshell. This means that for that
electron, n=2 and ℓ = 1. Since ℓ = 1, we can conclude that there are three 2p orbitals
in this subshell because there are three values of (ml), given by -1, 0, and 1.

4. Spin Quantum Number

Individual electrons within an orbital has a property represented by the spin

quantum number. Each orbital may hold up to two electrons with opposite spin
directions. Electrons are not spinning in a physical sense, this is just a representation
of the idea that there are two possible values for the spin quantum number. When an
electron is assigned to spin up, it is represented by an upward arrow and a value of
+1/2. If an electron is spinning down, it is represented by a downward arrow and a
value of -1/2 (Brown, 2015).

Figure 3. Representation of the Spin Quantum Number values

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The following are the principles and rule involved in quantum mechanics: (These
will be elaborated in the next module)

Pauli Exclusion Principle:

Wolfgang Pauli established in 1926 that a set of quantum numbers is unique to
a single electron. That is to say, no two electrons can have the same n, l, ml, or ms
values. The first three quantum numbers identify a specific orbital and can have the
same values, but the fourth is important and must have opposite spins.

Hund's Rule:
When orbitals belong to the same primary shell, their energy levels may be the
same. These orbitals are referred to be degenerate, or "equal energy," orbitals.
Electrons fill orbitals one at a time, according to Hund's Rule. This means that when
using the arrow model to design electron configurations, you must first fill each shell
with one electron before starting to pair them up. Remember that an electron has
a negative charge and that electrons repel each other. By remaining unpaired,
electrons will attempt to establish distance between themselves and other electrons.
This also explains why electrons in orbitals have opposite spins (i.e. and ).

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle:

This principle states that we cannot accurately measure an electron's
momentum and position at the same time. The position of the electron gets less
certain as the electron's momentum becomes more certain, and vice versa
(Silberberg, 2013).

What’s More (A)

Activity 2.1: Let’s test your understanding!

Directions: Answer the following questions below as directed on a separate sheet of
paper and submit it to your teacher as soon as you are finished.
1. List the values of n, ℓ, and m/ for orbitals in the 4d subshell.
n value/s ℓ value/s ml value/s

2. What is the total number of orbitals associated with the principal quantum
number n=3? Defend your answer.

For items 3-5, identify if the following set of quantum numbers are correct. If not,
indicate which quantum number is wrong.

3. n=2, ℓ =1, ml= -1, ms= +1/2

4. n=3, ℓ =1, ml=-3, ms= -1/2

5. n=1, ℓ =1, ml= +1, ms= -1/2

4
 What’s More (B)
Activity 2.2: Identify the orbital
Directions: Determine which orbital is described by the following sets of quantum
numbers. If the set includes an incorrect value, write “not allowed”.
n ℓ ml Orbital
Number
2 1 -1 2p (example)
1. 1 0 0
2. 3 -3 2
3. 3 2 -2
4. 2 0 -1
5. 0 0 0
6. 4 2 1

What Have I Learned

Activity 3: How much have you learned?

Directions: In your own words, describe the following terms in 2-3 sentences only.
1. Quantum Number
2. Principal Quantum Number
3. Angular Quantum Number
4. Magnetic Quantum Number

What I Can Do
Activity 4: I am ELECTRON MAN!

Directions: Imagine yourself as an electron. Like an electron, you should keep track
of your location and activity for three days. If quantum numbers give information about
the location of an electron or set of electrons, you could describe your location in any
number of ways (e.g. GPS coordinates, qualitatively describing your surroundings,
google map, etc.). Fill out the table below with the needed details and answer the
questions that follow. The first row serves as an example.

Electron Name: Special Skill:

Day Time Location Activity
Dining Area, Rizal’s House, Having breakfast
1 9:00 AM Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines with family

1 9:00 AM

1 3:00 PM

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 1 7:00 PM

2 9:00 AM

2 3:00 PM

2 7:00 PM

3 9:00 AM

3 3:00 PM

3 7:00 PM

Follow-up Questions:

1. What is the importance of understanding the role of quantum numbers in

chemistry?

2. How are GPS (Global Positioning System) and quantum numbers related to
each other?

3. Why is it important to be aware of your location and surroundings?

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SUMMARY

• All electrons have four quantum numbers which describe the location of
electrons in the electron cloud of an atom and can be used to determine the
electron configuration of an atom.
• Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom suggests that the electron orbits the
nucleus like our solar system.
• Quantum mechanical description of the hydrogen atom has proven that
Bohr’s model of electrons is incorrect. It states that we do not know exactly
where the electron is, but with high probability, we can conclude that the
electron is most likely to be found in an orbital
• According to the Pauli Exclusion Principle, each electron in an atom has an
exclusive set of quantum numbers and no two electrons can have the same
combination of four quantum numbers.
• Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle states that we cannot accurately
measure an electron's momentum and position at the same time. The position
of the electron gets less certain as the electron's momentum becomes more
certain, and vice versa
• The principal quantum number (n) describes the size of the orbital where the
electron resides. The azimuthal or angular quantum number (l) describes the
shape of the orbital. The magnetic quantum number (ml) defines the orientation
of the orbital in space and the electron spin number (ms) defines the direction
that the electron spins on its axis.
• Hund’s rule states that before additional electrons with opposite spins can
occupy the same orbitals, single electrons with the same spin must occupy
each equal-energy orbital first.

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 Assessment: (Post-Test)

Multiple Choice. Read and understand each item and choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which quantum number indicates the relative size of an orbital?

A. magnetic quantum number C. electron configuration
B. principal quantum number D. geometry

2. Which of the following combinations is allowed?

A. n=2, ℓ =1, ml= -1, ms= +1/2 C. n=3, ℓ =1, ml=-3, ms= -1/2
B. n=1, ℓ =1, ml= +1, ms= -1/2 D. None of the above

3. Which of the following symbolizes the spin of an electron?

A. mℓ C. n
B. ms D. ℓ

4. What does the magnetic quantum number describe?

A. distance of the most electron-dense C. number of electron
B. spatial orientation of the orbital D. shape of orbital

5. What does the quantum mechanical model describes electrons?

A. particles with wave-like properties C. particles
B. small, hard spheres D. waves

6. What do you call the three-dimensional orientation of the orbital in space around
the nucleus?
A. magnetic quantum number C. electron configuration
B. principal quantum number D. geometry

7. Who are the founding fathers of Quantum Mechanics?

A. Werner Karl Heisenberg C. Isaac Newton
B. Erwin Schrodinger D. A & B

8. Who said that no two electrons can have the same set of four quantum numbers?
A. Heisenberg C. Hund
B. Einstein D. Pauli

9. How many types of quantum numbers?

A. 6 C. 8
B. 2 D. 4

10. Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle states that the___ and ___ of an electron
cannot be known simultaneously. How does this statement be completed correctly?
A. position, momentum C. position, charge
B. momentum, speed D. position, mass

8
 9
Lesson 1:
Activity 1: Activity 2.1
T 1. n= 4
T ℓ=2
F m/ = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2
F
T 2. 9
For n=3, the possible values of / are 0, 1, and 2.
One 3s orbital ( n=3, /= 0, and m/=0);
Three 3p orbitals ( n=3, /= 1, and m/= -1, 0, 1,);
Five 3d orbitals ( n=3, /=2, and m/= -2,-1, 0, 1, 2).
The total number of orbitals is 1 + 3 + 5 = 9.
3. Yes
4. No; ml = 3
5. No; ℓ = 1
Activity 2.2
1s
Not allowed
3d
2s
Not allowed
4d
Pre-test:
1.A 2. B 3.D 4.A 5.D 6.B 7.D 8.B 9.A 10.A
Key to Answers
Key to Answers

10
 11
Post-test:
1.B 2. A 3.B 4.B 5.A 6.A 7.D 8.D 9.D 10.A
Lesson 2 - Activity 2.1
Key to Answers
 References

“Atomic Structure.” SparkNotes. Accessed August 28, 2020.

https://www.sparknotes.com/chemistry/fundamentals/atomicstructure/
section2/.

Brown, Theodore. Chemistry: The Central Science. New York: Pearson,2015.

Canva. Accessed November 5, 2020. https://www.canva.com/education

Chang, R. and Goldsby, K. Chemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill

Education, 2010.

“Quantum Numbers - Concept.” Brightstorm. Accessed August 28, 2020.

https://www.brightstorm.com/science/chemistry/the-atom/quantum-
numbers/.

“Quantum Numbers for Atoms.” Chemistry LibreTexts. August 15, 2020.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Che
mistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theor
etical_Chemistry)/Quantum_Mechanics/10:_Multi-
electron_Atoms/Quantum_Numbers_for_Atoms.

Silberberg, Martin. Principles of General Chemistry. Boston: McGraw-

Hill Higher Education, 2013.

FAIR USE AND CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This SLM (Self Learning Module) is
for educational purposes only. Borrowed materials (i.e. songs, stories, poems,
pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks, etc.) included in these modules are
owned by their respective copyright holders. The publisher and authors do not
represent nor claim ownership over them.

For inquiries and feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

DepEd Division of Cagayan de Oro City

Fr. William F. Masterson Ave., Upper Balulang, Cagayan de Oro
Telefax: (08822) 855-0048
E-mail Address: cagayandeoro.city@deped.gov.ph

12