What do the four quantum numbers describe about an electron?

1 Answer
Dylan K.
Dec 21, 2016

Quantum numbers give the orbital shape, the size and the orientation and spin value of the electron in question

Explanation:

#n#, the principle quantum number tells about the size/shell of the orbital and about the relative energy of the orbital which the electron is in.

#l#, the angular momentum quantum number tells us about the shape and the subshell which the pertaining electron is in.

#m_l#, the magnetic quantum number tells us about the orientation of the electron in question within the respective subshell

#m_s#, is the spin quantum number and tells us if the electron is spin up or spin down within the subshell

Consider the graphic below, which show quantum number notation:
enter image source here

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