n, l ,ml, ms

[Abigail Menchaca_1H]

I am confused on what to write for ms = ... I am not sure if we are supposed to pick -1/2, +1/2 or both or just how we get an answer for it

[christabellej 1F]

The magnetic spin of an electron can only be +1/2 or -1/2. This is because of the Pauli exclusion principle where there can only be two electrons per orbital, and that the electrons must be spin paired. So, one electron must go in an upwards spin (+1/2) and the other in a downwards spin (-1/2). As far as writing them out, you can choose to write either +1/2 or -1/2 as it doesn't really matter.

[Eva Zhao 4I]

As mentioned, m_s can be either +1/2 or -1/2, and it's pretty arbitrary unless the question specifically provides the spin. The most important thing to note is that no two electrons in the same atom can have the exact same four quantum numbers.

[Eunice Nguyen 4I]

It doesn't really matter which one you pick necessarily, as long as they are opposite spins. So you can't have two +1/2 together, but rather one +1/2 and one -1/2.

[ThomasNguyen_Dis1H]

ms can only equal +/- 1/2. Each electron in the orbital can only take one of the values. For example, in a Pz orbital, two electrons can be in this orbital. These electrons can't have the same ms values so one must be +1/2 and one must be -1/2.

[quresh3E]

If you write the electron configuration you can tell if there is a +1/2 or -1/2 spin.

[Ashley Kim 3F]

As everyone above mentioned, the only two possible values for ms are +½ and -½. In a quiz or test, the spin of the electron will most likely be easy to determine given the wording or information provided in the question, so I don't think you need to worry about it too much!

[105289321]

It is either +1/2 or -1/2 depending on the spin of the valence electron in question

[Annie Ye]

When the spin is up, the ms is +1/2 and when the spin is down it is -1/2

[Kavya Immadisetty 2B]

Spin up is +1/2
Spin down is -1/2

[Anokhi Patel 2B]

Up spin is +1/2 and down spin -1/2

[Gerald Bernal1I]

When asked to write the ms of a certain configuration you just have to pick one of them since each refers to one electron spinning one way. Since there is no definite way to know you can pick one, +1/2 being up spin and -1/2 being down spin.

[Claire Grover 3G]

I think it depends on which direction the electron is going (either up or down).

[ABombino_2J]

ms tells you if the electron is spin up or spin down. If it is the first time filling the orbital it is spin up. If you need to pair an electron it will be spin down.