electron spin

[Jamie2002]

When a question asks for the electron spin, do we always say that it can either be +½ or -½? Or if we know that the electron in question is an unpaired electron, we can say that it has an electron spin of +½?

[Andrew Jubintoro 3J]

I think it can be either +½ or -½. The only thing you know is that if two electrons occupy the same orbital, their spins must be paired (one +½, one -½).

[Andrew Wang 1C]

If an orbital only has one electron and is in the ground state, I'm pretty sure the spin should be +½. It wouldn't be in the ground state if it had spin -½.

[Pranav Kadiyala 1A]

Additionally, if you are drawing out the electron configuration diagram, make sure all unpaired electrons have the same spin!

[OwenSumter_2F]

Furthermore, most questions of electron configuration won't ask for the electron spin since it is a 50/50 and you can't know more without more context. That being said, if you see a question where the answer for electron spin is something such as 0 or 1 you know it is wrong.