How many 3d_(z^2) orbitals have n = 3 and l = 2?

1 Answer
Nov 9, 2016

You already specified an orbital, so... one...

http://www.chemguide.co.uk/http://www.chemguide.co.uk/

The 3d_(z^2) is the specific orbital with:

  • bb(n = 3), because the 3 in front says that. Thus, it is in the 3rd quantum level.
  • bb(l = 2), which corresponds to a d orbital, since the values of l correspond as (0,1,2,3,4, . . . ) harr (s,p,d,f,g, . . . ).
  • m_l for this orbital is one of the values in the following set: {-2,-1,0,+1,+2}. It does not matter which one, but it is only one of them, since you have specified only one d orbital. That is, m_l is known, but is yours to choose, since all the 3d orbitals in an atom are the same energy (degenerate).
  • m_s requires more information to specify, but it can either be pm"1/2" in general. It depends on how many electrons were in that orbital to begin with, whether it's spin-up or spin-down for the electron of choice.