II.

Quantum Numbers
PREPARED BY GIL FELICISIMO S. CABRERA
Wave Mechanical Model of an Atom
•In the mid-1920’s, Schrödinger and de Broglie scientist found Bohr’s
model to be insufficient in locating electrons and came up with a
new model.
Wave Mechanical Model of an Atom
•Schrödinger and de Broglie noticed that electrons and light
can behave both as a particle and wave. (Wave-particle
duality)
•Schrödinger wave equation – mathematical model to
understand the behavior of electrons
Wave Mechanical Model of an Atom
•Firefly experiment
• Cannot predict the location but we can fin the probability of the
location.

A representation of The orbital thatdescribes the

the photo of the firefly hydrogen electron in its
experiment. lowest possible energy state.
Wave Mechanical Model of an Atom
•Bohr Model vs Wave Mechanical Model
• Both models allow electrons be at a particular energy level
• The latter does not define the exact path the electron
takes
• The latter also uses probability in finding the estimate in
the electron’s position
Quantum Numbers
•The principal quantum number (n) describes the electron shell, or
energy level, of an electron. The value of n ranges from 1 to the shell
containing the outermost electron of that atom.
n = 1, 2, 3 ………
•The azimuthal quantum number (ℓ) (also known as the angular
quantum number or orbital quantum number) represents the energy
sublevels. Also defines the shape of the orbital
ℓ = 0, 1, 2, …….. (n - 1)
Quantum Numbers
•There are 7 energy levels which
corresponds to the rows or periods on
the periodic table. 1-7
•Each energy level designated by the
numbers, (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7)
•Within each level, there are sublevels
(orbital) designated as: s, p, d, f.
Quantum Numbers
Quantum Numbers
Quantum Numbers
•s-orbitals -sphere shaped, exist as a single orbital

•p-orbitals–sort of pear shaped, come in 3’s.

Quantum Numbers
•d-orbitals –much more complex shape, come in sets of 5.

•f-orbitals –even more complex than d-orbitals, come in sets of 7.

Quantum Numbers
Quantum Numbers
•The magnetic quantum number () describes the orientation of the orbital in
space.
= - to +
number of per sublevel = 2 + 1
Quantum Numbers
The spin projection quantum number () describes the spin of the electron
within that orbital
= + ½ and – ½ only.
Quantum Numbers
Electron Configuration
•Aufbau Principle - states that, electrons orbiting one or
more atoms fill the lowest available energy levels before
filling higher levels So how to know if it has a higher
energy level?
Just remember: n+l rule

Ex:

4s vs 3d

4s  n+l = 4 + 0 = 4
3d  n+l = 3 + 2 = 5

5>4, 3d has higher energy level

Electron Configuration
•Pauli Exclusion Principle – no two electrons in the same
atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.
For example: 2p4
↿↿ ↿ ↿
↿ ↿↿ ↿
Wrong Wrong
-1 0 1 -1 0 1
2p 2p

↿ ↿ ↿
↿
Correct
-1 0 1
2p
Electron Configuration
•Hund’s Rule – electrons will spread out over the available
orbitals with their spins in the same direction before they
pair up with opposite spins.
For example: 2p4

↿ ↿ ↿ ↿ ↿
↿ ↿ ↿
Wrong Correct
-1 0 1 -1 0 1
2p 2p
Electron Configuration
Condensed Electron Configurations/Noble Gas Notation
•Neon completes the 2p subshell, similarly Argon completes the 3p
subshell, Krypton completes the 4p subshell and so on
•Sodium marks the beginning of a new row.
•So, we write the condensed electron configuration for sodium as
Na: [Ne] 3s1
•[Ne] represents the electron configuration of neon.
•Core electrons: electrons in [Noble Gas].
•Valence electrons: electrons outside of [Noble Gas].
Electron Configuration
Transition Metals
•After Ar the d orbitals begin to fill.
•After the 3d orbitals are full, the 4p orbitals being to fill.
•Transition metals: elements in which the d electrons are the valence
electrons.
Electron Configuration
Lanthanide and Actinides
•From Ce onwards the 4f orbitals begin to fill.
•Note: La: [Xe]6s25d14f0
•Elements Ce - Lu have the 4f orbitals filled and are called
lanthanides or rare earth elements.
•Elements Th - Lr have the 5f orbitals filled and are called actinides.
•Most actinides are not found in nature.
Electron Configuration
•The periodic table can be used as a guide for electron configurations.
•The period number is the value of n.
•Groups 1A and 2A have the s-orbital filled.
•Groups 3A - 8A have the p-orbital filled.
•Groups 3B - 2B have the d-orbital filled.
•The lanthanides and actinides have the f-orbital filled
Electron Configuration
Electron Configuration
•Recall that valence electrons are the electrons on the outer most
part of the atom.
•To determine the number of valence electrons, we can look at the
group number as we did in the past, or we can look at the electron
configuration.
•The number of valence electrons is determined by the number of
electrons in the outermost energy level.
Sample Problems
(1) Write the electronic configuration, both the long form and noble
gas notation, of the following elements and ions:
a.) Mo
b.)
c.)
Sample Problems
Solution to (1)
a.) Nb
First get the Z of Nb, Z = 41
The superscript of the quantum numbers should not exceed 41
Remember the Aufbau principle diagram, we start with 1s then 2s then 2p and so on
122
Why 2 electrons for s?  s can only occupy 2 electrons
Why 6 electrons for p?  p can only occupy 6 electrons
Why 10 electrons for 3d but not 4d? d can only occupy 10 electrons. The 4d orbital only has 3 electrons
because the total is already 41.

Noble Gas Notation – Since Krypton completes the 4p subshell then:

[Kr]
Sample Problems
Solution to (1)
b.)
First get the Z of O, Z = 8
Since this is an anion, we should add 2 to the Z, so 10
The superscript of the quantum numbers should not exceed 10
Remember the Aufbau principle diagram, we start with 1s then 2s then 2p and so on
122
Why 2 electrons for s?  s can only occupy 2 electrons
Why 6 electrons for p?  p can only occupy 6 electrons
Sample Problems
Solution to (1)
c.)
First get the Z of Fe, Z = 26 Since this is a cation, we should subtract 3 to the Z, so 23
The superscript of the quantum numbers should not exceed 23
Remember the Aufbau principle diagram, we start with 1s then 2s then 2p and so on
However there is a bit of a trick here
The electron configuration of Fe is 122
 we must remove 3 electrons
122 Wrong  you removed 3 electrons from the 3d orbital which is not the valence
shell, the valence shell is the 4s even though it has lower energy

122 Correct  you removed 2 electrons from the 4s orbital which is the valence
shell, you then remove 1 electron from the 3d orbital so that makes 3
electrons removed, hence the 3+ charge
Sample Problems
(2) Write the quantum number of the last electron, the quantum
number of the differentiating electron, of the following elements:
a.) C
b.) Sc
Sample Problems
Solution to (2)
a.) C
First get the Z of C, Z = 6
The superscript of the quantum numbers should not exceed 6
Remember the Aufbau principle diagram, we start with 1s then 2s then 2p and so on
122
We then create an orbital filling diagram
 Sample Problems
n ℓ mℓ ms
↿
↿
1 0 0 +1/2
0
1s2 0 0 -1/2
↿ 2 0 +1/2
↿ 0
0 -1/2
0
0
2s2 2 1 -1 +1/2
1 0 +1/2
↿ ↿
-1 0 1
2p 2 Quantum number of the last electron:
2, 1, 0, +1/2
Sample Problems
Solution to (2)
b.) Sc
Same steps in a.) but Z = 21
1
We then create an orbital filling diagram
n ℓ mℓ ms
↿
↿
1 0 0 +1/2
0
1s2 0 0 -1/2
↿ 2 0 +1/2
↿ 0
0 -1/2
0
0
2s2
 Sample Problems
↿ ↿ mℓ ms
↿ ↿ n ℓ
↿
↿
2 1 -1 +1/2
-1 0 1
2p6 1 0 +1/2
1 +1 +1/2
1 -1 -1/2
1 0 -1/2
1 +1 -1/2
+1/2
↿
↿ 3 0 0
0 0 -1/2
0
3s2
 Sample Problems
mℓ ms
↿ ↿ n ℓ
↿ ↿
↿
↿
3 1 -1 +1/2
-1 0 1
3p6 1 0 +1/2
1 +1 +1/2
1 -1 -1/2
1 0 -1/2
↿
↿ 1 +1 -1/2
4 0 0 +1/2
0
4s2 0 0 -1/2

↿ 3 2 -2 +1/2
-2 -1 0 1 2
3d 1 Quantum number of the last electron: 3, 2, -2, +1/2