Shape and Orientation

[Kiana Rogers 1E]

Is there a good way to remember the possible values of l and m_l for each orbital?

[Sadhana Jeyakumar 2J]

I personally do not know any tricks for remembering the possible values of l and ml. But if you know n or the subshell the electron is in, you can figure out the possible values of l and ml.

For example, if you know that n = 2, then l is either 0 or 1, and ml is either -1, 0, 1. This is because l = 0, 1, ... , (n-1) and ml = -l, ... , l.

If you know that the electron is in the 3d subshell, then you know that n = 3, l = 2, and ml has possible values of -2, -1, 0, 1, 2. The 3 in front of the d signifies the principle quantum number (n).

There is a mnemonic for remembering the order of the orbitals (Scott Picks Dead Flowers), but again, I don't know any tricks for remembering the possible quantum number values.

Hope that helped!