Question

Question #c8ee4

Answer 1

No. `Li` cannot give rise to normal Zeeman effect. It rather shows anomalous Zeeman effect.

Explanation:

Normal Zeeman Effect is shown by atoms where the net spin angular momentum due to electrons is zero. In that case, there is no effect of spin, and hence the application of Magnetic field splits each spectral line into 3 closely lying components leading to what is called Zeeman Effect or more specifically Normal Zeeman Effect.

However, if net spin of elections is non-zero, there is spin interaction and then application of external field greatly complicates the situation.
In this case, spectral lines may be split into a number of components and this cannot be accounted without considering electronic spin interaction. This is known as Anomalous Zeeman Effect.

Since in the case of `Li` we have `Z = 3` and hence, an electronic configuration `1s^2 2s^1`, this clearly shows an outer unpaired electron which leads to non-zero net electronic spin.

Thus `Li` shows anomalous Zeeman Effect and not normal Zeeman Effect.