What is the smallest possible value of the principal quantum number $n$ for an $s$ electron?

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Answer 1 · 2018-03-28T13:43:13

$n=1$

Well, an electron in the $s$ orbital would mean that the orbital angular momentum quantum number $l$ is $0$ .

We know that the principal quantum number $n$ and $l$ is related by:

$l=0,1,2,3,...(n-1)$

And so, $n_min=l+1$

$=0+1$

$=1$

What is the smallest possible value of the principal quantum number nn for an ss electron?