What are quantum numbers - Chemistry - Structure of Atom

Question

What are quantum numbers?

Kirti Gogia · Accepted Answer

Quantum numbers are the numbers which define the location of electrons in the orbitals around the nucleus of an atom There are four quantum numbers, viz, Principal quantum number (n) : It defines the main shell to which an electron belongs The values of n =1,2,3,4, Azimuthal quantum number (

) : It tells us the number of subshells present in the main shell and the orbital to which an electron belongs Its value is equal to 0 to (n-1) Magnetic quantum number (m) : It informs the level of degeneracy of the orbitals Its value is equal to -

,0,+

Spin quatum number (s) : It tells us whether the electron in an orbital is spinning in upward direction or downward direction s has two values +1/2 for upward spin and -1/2 for downward spin The following table shows the values of different quantum numbers: n

=n-1 m= -

,0 +

number of degenerate orbitals 1 (K) 0 (s) 0 0 2 (L) 0 (s) 1 (p) 0 -1,0,+1 0 3 (px,py,pz) 3 (M) 0 (s) 1 (p) 2 (d) 0 -1,0,+1 -2,-1,0,+1,+2 0 3 (px,py,pz) 5 (dxy,dyz,dzx,

,

4 (N) 0 (s) 1 (p) 2 (d) 3 (f) 0 -1,0,+1 -2,-1,0,+1,+2 -3,-2,-1,0,+1,+2,+3 0 3 (px,py,pz) 5 (dxy,dyz,dzx,

,

7 degenerate orbitals All these four quantum numbers define the state of an electron and help us determine the electronic configuration of any atom Hope the above information is helpful Enjoy learning!!

n	=n-1	m= -,0.+	number of degenerate orbitals
1 (K)	0 (s)	0	0
2 (L)	0 (s) 1 (p)	0 -1,0,+1	0 3 (p_x,p_y,p_z)
3 (M)	0 (s) 1 (p) 2 (d)	0 -1,0,+1 -2,-1,0,+1,+2	0 3 (p_x,p_y,p_z) 5 (d_xy,d_yz,d_zx,,
4 (N)	0 (s) 1 (p) 2 (d) 3 (f)	0 -1,0,+1 -2,-1,0,+1,+2 -3,-2,-1,0,+1,+2,+3	0 3 (p_x,p_y,p_z) 5 (d_xy,d_yz,d_zx,, 7 degenerate orbitals