What is the orbital notation for the electron in an orbital with the following quantum number: #n# = 3, #l# = 1?
1 Answer
Here's what I got.
Explanation:
The interesting thing to notice here is that you can't really say the exact orbital in which that electron resides because you're missing the value of the magnetic quantum number,
As you know, four quantum numbers are used to describe the position and spin of an electron inside an atom.
The principal quantum number,
#n=3 -># the third energy level
The angular momentum quantum number,
#l = 0 -># the s subshell#l=1 -># the p subshell#l=2 -># the d subshell#vdots#
In your case, the electron is located in the
#m_l = color(white)(-)0 -># the#p_z# orbital#m_l = -1 -># the#p_x# orbital#m_l = +1 -># the#p_z# orbital
In order to be able to specify the exact orbital in which the electron resides, you need to know the value of
#n=3, l=1# The electron is located on the third energy level, in the p subshell.
