How to find principal quantum number of an element?
Answers
ze of the orbital
l
: the angular quantum number relates the shape of the orbital and ranges from
0
to
n
−
1
m
l
: the magnetic quantum number relates the spatial orientation of the orbital and ranges from
[
−
l
,
l
]
m
s
: the magnetic spin quantum number relates the spin of the electron per orbital
For instance, let's take a look at carbon's electron configuration:
C
:
[
H
e
]
2
s
2
2
p
2
It would contain 2 core electrons, 4 valence electrons, 2 unpaired electrons and three orbitals:
n
:
1
,
2
l
:
0
,
1
m
l
:
[
−
1
,
1
]
m
s
:
1
2
,
−
1
2
the only two it may possess, ever
In more detail, the
1
s
,
and
2
s
orbitals are full of two electrons each, each a sphere in increasing size proportional to
n
. The
2
p
orbital has two unpaired electrons in accordance with Hund's rule, and three spatial orientations. It'd look something like this