How many sets of quantum numbers specify all the #2p# orbitals?
1 Answer
Jul 30, 2017
Well, there are three sets... The
#(n,l,m_l) = (2, 1, {-1, 0, +1})#
Do you spot three here?
Recall:
- The principal quantum number
#n# specifies what energy level one is in:#n = 1, 2, 3, . . . # - The angular momentum quantum number
#l# describes the shape of the orbital.
#l = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, . . . , n-1 harr s, p, d, f, g, h, i, k, . . . # .If
#l = 0# , the orbital is sharp (spherical), an#s# orbital.
If#l = 1# , the orbital is principal (polarized), an#p# orbital.
If#l = 2# , the orbital is diffuse, an#d# orbital.
If#l = 3# , the orbital is "fundamental", an#f# orbital.
- The magnetic quantum number
#m_l# corresponds to each orbital "orientation", and describes a separate orbital orthogonal to the rest.#m_l = {-l, -l+1, . . . , 0, . . . , l-1, l}# .
These are all three quantum numbers required to describe an orbital. If you want to describe orbital occupations, you'll need to specify the electron spin,
