Arrangement of electrons - 2 | Quantum Theory and Atomic Structure

Chapter 5 - Quantum Theory and Atomic Structure

How many electrons can be specified by the following combinations of quantum numbers?

- n = 2

- n = 3, l = 2

- n = 3, l = 1, m_l = 0

- n = 4, l = 2, m_l = -1, m_s = ½

See Solutions

Solution

- n = 2 ⇒ 2 subshells: 2s and 2p ⇒ 4 orbitals
⇒ 4 x 2 e^- = 8 e^-

- n = 3, l = 2 ⇒ 1 subshell: 3d ⇒ 5 orbitals
⇒ 5 x 2 e^- = 10 e^-

- n = 3, l = 1, m_l = 0 ⇒ 1 subshell: 3p + only 1 orbital (m_l = 0)
⇒ 1 x 2 e^- = 2 e^-

- n = 4, l = 2, m_l = -1, m_s = ½ ⇒ 1 subshell: 4d, 1 orbital (m_l = -1), 1 e^- (m_s = ½)
⇒ 1 e^-

General Chemistry 1 - Arrangement of electrons - 2