Problem 2.21

[104754311]

Can someone please explain why part a's solution only has one answer for l, (l=1), when n=6 and can have multiple answers, from 0 to 5?

[Maria1E]

The principal quantum number is n, and in 6p n=6. The angular momentum is l. This is equal to one because each value of l corresponds to a particular subshell. It is true that when n = 6 you have 6 possibilities for n, which are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. However, you are told the subshell in this problem, so you should know the exact value of l. If the subshell is s, l = 0. If the subshell is p, l = 1. If the subshell is d, l = 2. And if the subshell is f, l = 3.

0 1 2 3
s p d f

In this case, the subshell is p, so l = 1.