Question

What are the possible values of n and ml for an electron in a 5d orbital ? A) n = 5 and ml = -2, -1, 0, +1, or +2 B) n = 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 and ml = 2 C) n = 5 and ml = 2 D) n = 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 and ml = -2, -1, 0, +1, or +2

Answer 1

The answer is A).

The principal quantum number, or `n`, describes the energy lelvel in which the electron can be found, Since you're interested in an electron located in a 5d-orbital, `n=5`.

The angular momentum quantum number, or `l`, describes the subshell, or orbital type, in which your electron is located. Since you have a d-orbital, `l=2`.

The value of `l` will give you the value of the magnetic quantum number, or `m_l`, which describes the orientation of the orbital.

The accepted values for `m_l` range from `-l` to `+l`, which means that you can have 5 d-orbitals in the fifth energy level, `d_(xy)`, `d_(xz)`, `d_(yz)`, `d_(z^2)`, and `d_(x^2-y^2)`, each described by a magnetic quantum number

`m_l = -2`
`m_l = -1`
`m_l = 0`
`m_l = +1`
`m_l = +2`

As an example, here's how these orbitals would look for the 3d subshell