Question

What do these sets of quantum numbers describe?

`a)` `(n,l,m_l,m_s) = (5,1,-1,+1/2)`
`b)` `(n,l,m_l,m_s) = (6,1,1,-1/2)`

Answer 1

As I'm sure you know, there are four quantum numbers used to describe the location of an electron.

In order, these four quantum numbers are

![http://figures.boundless.com]()

I'll start with the first one. The 5p subshell places your electron in one of the three 5p-orbitals, `5p_x`, `5p_y`, or `5p_z`. This means that a set of quantum numbers you can use has

`n=5` `->` the fifth energy level;
`l =1` `->` the 5p subshell;
`m_l=-1` `->` the `5p_x` orbital;
`m_s="+1/2"` `->` spin-up;

This set describes an electron that is located on the fifth energy level, in the 5p subshell, in the `5p_x` orbital and that has a spin-up.

Keep in mind, n = 5 and l = 1 are a must if you want your electron to be in the 5p subshell. You could however have other values for `m_l` (0 or +1) and `m_s` (-1/2).

Now for the second one. The 6p subshell has, once again, three 6p-orbitals: `6p_x`, `6p_y`, and `6p_z`. The same principle applies in this case as well

`n=6` `->` the sixth energy level;
`l =1` `->` the 6p subshell;
`m_l=+1` `->` the `6p_z` orbital;
`m_s="-1/2"` `->` spin-down;

This time, the numbers I've chosen describe an electron that is located on the sixth energy level, in the 6p subshell, in the `6p_z` orbital and that has spin-down.