Quantum Numbers

[Shannon Asay 1C]

What are the differences between the angular momentum quantum number and the magnetic quantum number and how do you calculate them?

[Chem_Mod]

The angular momentum number denotes the subshell (e.g. s, p, d) the electron is in while the magnetic quantum number denotes the number of orbitals you can have for that specific subshell. The possible values you can have for the angular momentum quantum number are 0, 1, ... n-1 with n being the principal quantum number. The possible values you can have for the magnetic quantum number are -l...0...l, with l being the specific angular momentum number that you are looking at.

[John Arambulo 1I]

In addition to what Chem_Mod said about angular momentum quantum number and magnetic quantum number, the angular momentum quantum number describes the 'shape' of the orbital while the magnetic quantum number describes the orientation in space of the different orbitals of a subshell.

[chari_maya 3B]

why are higher orbitals (g-,h- etc) not used by chemists in practice?

[Aman Sankineni 2L]

I believe they are used in more complicated experiments and more detailed chemistry, but in terms of this class, we probably won't be going over them since those elements don't come up.

[005384106]

How does an atoms energy level relate to n and l?

[005384106]

Does l represent energy level?

[005384106]

Can I clarify why the n is always less that 1 of l.

[Ashley R 1A]

for the principal quantum number n, keep in mind that all energies are measured as negative because it's relative to the energy of the free electron. When you start at n=1, this is the first energy level so it will be the lowest and most negative energy level, and as you increase n, energy will subsequently increase. Since n goes backwards, then the highest energy level will be n=0, which is when the electron escapes the nucleus.

[Ashley R 1A]

Regarding your second question reply, l represents the shape inside an energy level, and it represents the orbital angular momentum quantum number. To my understanding, within a hydrogen atom, all the orbitals in a shell will have the same energy despite what shape it has, but this isn't true for atoms with more than one electron.