Magnetic Quantum Number

[Sarah Zhao 4C]

I understand that for the p orbital, you can determine based off the magnetic quantum number if it is Px, Py, or Pz. But for the s, d, or f orbitals, are we supposed to be able to recognize which value of m lines up with which axis pairs?

I'm sorry if that wording made no sense.

[MaanasO 1A]

Hi Sarah!

I believe we don't need to understand how each of the orbitals line up with the axes. S-orbitals are spheres, but d and f orbitals are very much complicated and are beyond the scope of our class.

Hope that helps!

[tierra parker 1J]

I don't think we need to know the specific axis pairing. I think we just need to know that the d orbital has five different pairings

[Sean Reyes 1J]

We mainly need to know the relationship between n, l, and ml in that ml is dependent on l, which is also dependent on n.
So, for example, knowing that n =3 and l=2, that means that ml could take on the values: -2,-1,0,+1,+2.
Hope this helps!

[isarose0]

Can someone give me the the most simple definition of a wavefunction?

[Sarah Zhao 4C]

It's the function used to calculate the energy of an electron