Quantum Numbers

[Ananta3G]

Do the rules we learned about the different quantum values work for all atoms? Or just the ones with 1 e-? I know Lavelle mentioned it, but I am unsure where the "1 e-" fits in? Thanks!

[Isha_Maniyar_Dis2E]

The quantum numbers all describe a single electron in any atom. So it doesn't have to be an atom with ONLY one electron; Lavelle was just saying that the four numbers all describe a single electron – the energy, shape, orientation, and spin state.

Hope this helped!

[Kaitlyn Ang 1J]

To my understanding: Yes, the quantum numbers work for all atoms. The reason he used 1 e- to define the shells, subshells, etc is because a question relating to quantum numbers will most likely look something like:
"An electron has n=1, l=1, ml=0, ms=1/2. Find where that electron is located in terms of shells, subshells, etc."
Since each electron in an atom has a unique set of quantum numbers, only 1 e- will correspond with the above quantum numbers, so we have to find that specific e-.

Does this kind of answer your question? Basically the 1 e- comes into play because there's only 1e- in an atom that fits a specific set of quantum numbers (but the method in finding that sequence is the same for all atoms)

Hope this helped!

[Diana Chavez-Carrillo 2L]

I am still confused about how to calculate the magnetic quantum number (ml) based on the principal quantum number (n) and angular momentum number( l ). Could someone please explain to me the process of finding it? Like I know that (l) is dependent on (n) but the (ml) still confuses me.
For example, today in lecture Lavelle gave us two examples: n=2, l=1, ml=-1 AND n=3, l=2, ml=2.

[RoshniVarmaDis1K]

I am still confused about how to calculate the magnetic quantum number (ml) based on the principal quantum number (n) and angular momentum number( l ). Could someone please explain to me the process of finding it? Like I know that (l) is dependent on (n) but the (ml) still confuses me.

m_l is the magnetic quantum number that represents orientation. It labels the different orbitals of a subshell.

The values of m_l can range from -l to l. For example, if l=1 (which represents the p subshell), m_l can range from -1 to 1 (i.e. it can be -1, 0, 1). This makes sense because we know that the p subshell has 3 orbitals.

Each value of m_l represents an orbital. For example in this case, -1 could be the p_x orbital, 0 the p_z orbtial, and 1 the p[/sub]z[/sub] orbital.

[Diana Chavez-Carrillo 2L]

I am still confused about how to calculate the magnetic quantum number (ml) based on the principal quantum number (n) and angular momentum number( l ). Could someone please explain to me the process of finding it? Like I know that (l) is dependent on (n) but the (ml) still confuses me.

m_l is the magnetic quantum number that represents orientation. It labels the different orbitals of a subshell.

The values of m_l can range from -l to l. For example, if l=1 (which represents the p subshell), m_l can range from -1 to 1 (i.e. it can be -1, 0, 1). This makes sense because we know that the p subshell has 3 orbitals.

Each value of m_l represents an orbital. For example in this case, -1 could be the p_x orbital, 0 the p_z orbtial, and 1 the p[/sub]z[/sub] orbital.

Do you know if Lavelle will ask us on the exam to draw out the orbitals like px, pz, and py or would maybe just ask us to find what they are?

[RoshniVarmaDis1K]

I think we definitely need to know how to describe an electron that is in a p orbital (i.e. be able to write/draw an electron configuration or write quantum numbers for a given electron.

If we need to draw p-orbitals, just remember that they are petal-shaped and that the three p-orbitals are always perpendicular to one another.

[Ziyan Wang 3J]

The 4 quantum numbers describe a specific electron in a specific atom/ion. For each electron in atom/ion, it has a different quantum number.