# What are the quantum numbers necessary to specify a 5p subshell?

Nov 7, 2015

$n = 5$
$l = 1$

#### Explanation:

As you know, quantum numbers are sused to describe the exact location and spin an electron can have in an atom.

A total of $4$ quantum numbers are used for this purpose, with every electron that's part of a given atom having a unique set of quantum numbers associated with its position ans spin.

Now, the principal equantum number, $n$, gives you the energy level on which you can find an electron.

Each energy level contains a specific number of subshells, given the possible values the angular momentum quantum number, $l$, can take.

For example, the second energy level is characterized by $n = 2$. As you can see in the table, $l$ can take values rnging from $0$ to $n - 1$.

This means that the second energy level will have a total of $2$ subshells.

In your case, the energy level is given by the number that's placed in front of the letter p, which denotes a specific subshell.

So, the principal quantum number, $n$, for the 5p-subshell is $\textcolor{g r e e n}{n = 5}$.

Now, the any p-subshell is characterized by $l = 1$. Similarly, any s-subshell is characterized by $l = 0$, any d-subshell by $l = 2$, and so on.

Therefore, the value of angula momentum quantum number will be $\textcolor{g r e e n}{l = 1}$.