QUANTUM
NUMBERS
Set of 4 numbers used to describe
the electrons in terms of :
a. Distance from the nucleus
b. Shape of the orbitals
c. Orientation in space
d. Direction of electron spin
PRINCIPAL QUANTUM
NUMBER, n
- Refers to the main energy levels
- Related to the average distance
of the electron from the nucleus
- Can only have integral values of
n = 1, 2, 3, 4 etc.
AZIMUTHAL or
SECONDARY QUANTUM
-
NUMBER, l
Defines the shape of the orbital.
- Also refers to the energy sublevels
subshell Azimuthal quantum
number, l
s 0
p 1
d 2
f 3
MAGNETIC QUANTUM
NUMBER, ml
Describes the orientation of the orbitals in space.
The range of magnetic quantum numbers defined by
the formula ml = 2l + 1 and takes the integer value
between –l to +l including 0
subshell Possible magnetic
quantum numbers, m l
s 0
p -1, 0, +1
d -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
f -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3
SPIN QUANTUM NUMBER,
ms
- differentiates how two electrons
behave under a magnetic field.
- Can only have two possible
values
+½ and -½
Example. What are the possible
quantum numbers for the
outermost electron of oxygen?
SOLUTION:
Identify the final orbital occupied by the
electron.
1s2 2s2 2p4
n= 2
2 p4 l= 1
ml = -1, 0,
+1
ms = +½ , -
½
What are the possible quantum
numbers for the outermost electron of
chromium?
SOLUTION:
Identify the final orbital occupied by the electron.
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 3d5
n= 3
3 d5 l= 2
ml = -2, -1, 0,
+1, +2
ms = +½ , -
½
For each subshells given below,
give the maximum number of
orbitals and electrons possible
Subshell or Number of Number of
sublevel orbitals electrons
8s
3p
3d
6f
6s
5d
4f
PeriodicTable Orbital Diagram.swf
Electron Population
Distribution or Electron
Orbital Notation
Show the electron population distribution for
15P.
P has 15 electrons.
Its electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3.
The electron population distribution for P is:
1 2 2p 3 3p
s s s
