Scribd
Upload
4 views

Lesson 1 Quantum Numbers

The document explains quantum numbers, which provide information about the location and arrangement of electrons in an atom. It discusses the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the inadequacy of Bohr's model, and the four quantum numbers: principal, angular momentum, magnetic, and spin, each with specific roles in defining electron behavior. Additionally, it outlines the principles governing electron configuration and the shapes and orientations of atomic orbitals.

Uploaded by

Mary Ann Lazarte Besar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views

Lesson 1 Quantum Numbers

The document explains quantum numbers, which provide information about the location and arrangement of electrons in an atom. It discusses the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the inadequacy of Bohr's model, and the four quantum numbers: principal, angular momentum, magnetic, and spin, each with specific roles in defining electron behavior. Additionally, it outlines the principles governing electron configuration and the shapes and orientations of atomic orbitals.

Uploaded by

Mary Ann Lazarte Besar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Lesson 1: Quantum Numbers

• According to the Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, it is impossible that both the energy and position of an
electron can be known at the same time. Thus, as we know more about the electron’s energy, we know less
about its position, and vice versa.
• Bohr’s model of the hydrogen atom suggests that the electron orbits the nucleus like our solar system (e.g. the
planets around the sun).
• However, the quantum mechanical description of the hydrogen atom has proven that the Bohr’s model of
electrons is incorrect.
• It states that we don’t know exactly where the electron is, but with high probability, we can conclude that the
electron is most likely to be found in an orbital (Chang, 2010).
Quantum numbers are set of values which give us an information about the location of electrons in the electron
cloud of an atom.
• It can be used to determine the electron configuration of an atom.
Electron Configuration describes the arrangement of electrons in its atomic orbitals.
Atomic orbitals are regions around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are most likely to be found.
• It follows the principles of quantum mechanics, particularly the Paul exclusion principle, Hund’s rule,
and the Aufbau principle, which dictates how electrons fill available orbitals.
• According to the Pauli Exclusion Principle, each electron in an atom has an exclusive set of quantum
numbers and no two electrons can have the same combination of four quantum numbers (Silberberg,
2013).
•
The Four Quantum Numbers
Quantum Number Symbol Possible Values
Principal Quantum Number n 1,2,3,4… (positive integers)
Angular Momentum Quantum ℓ 0,1,2,3… (0 to n-1)
Number
Magnetic Quantum Number ml - ℓ,…-1,0,1…,+ ℓ
Spin Quantum Number ms +1/2, -1/2

1. Principal Quantum Number (n)


• Symbol: n
• Defines the energy level (or shell) of the electron.
• It refers to the energy level and the size of the orbital an electron is likely to be found.
• Possible values: n=1,2,3,4,...n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ...n=1,2,3,4,... (positive integers)
• Higher n values mean the electron is farther from the nucleus and has more energy and larger orbital.
• The group of orbitals with the same value of n is called an electron shell.
• All the orbitals that have n = 2, for example, are said to be in the second shell.
• Carbon is in the second period of the periodic table, so, its outermost electron is in the shell with an energy level
Therefore, an electron in Carbon can have an n value from 1 to 2.
2. Angular Momentum/Azimuthal Quantum Number (ℓ)
• Symbol: ℓ
• -defines the shape of an atomic orbital
• Possible values: l=0,1,2,...(n−1)
• Corresponding orbital types:
• ℓ=0 → s orbital (spherical)
• ℓ=1 → p orbital (dumbbell)
• ℓ=2 → d orbital (cloverleaf)
• ℓ=3 → f orbital (complex shape)
• The s, p, d, and f orbitals are different types of atomic orbitals that describe the regions in an atom where
electrons are most likely to be found.
• They are based on quantum mechanics and are part of the electron cloud model of the atom.
• The set of orbitals that have the same n and ℓ values is called a subshell.

• Symbol: 𝑚𝑙
3. Magnetic Quantum Number

• Possible values: 𝑚𝑙=−𝑙 to +𝑙 (including 0)


• -describes the orientation of the orbital in space

• Example: For 𝑙=1 (p orbital), 𝑚𝑙 values are −1,0,1 representing three different p orbitals.

4. Spin Quantum Number


• Symbol: ms
• Specifies the spin direction of the electron.
• Possible values: ms=+1/2 (spin-up) or ms=−1/2 (spin-down)
• Each orbital can hold two electrons with opposite spins.
• Electrons are not really spinning in a physical sense, this is just a representation of the idea that there are two
possible values for the spin quantum number.
• When an electron is assigned to spin up, it is represented by an upward arrow and a value of +1/2. If an electron
is spinning down, it is represented by a downward arrow and a value of -1/2 (Brown, 2015).

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy