What is the orbital notation for the electron in an orbital with the following quantum number: n = 3, l = 1?

1 Answer
Oct 12, 2016

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, ml.

As you know, four quantum numbers are used to describe the position and spin of an electron inside an atom.

![figures.boundless.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

The principal quantum number, n, describes the energy level on which the electron resides. In your case, you have

n=3 the third energy level

The angular momentum quantum number, l, describes the subshell in which the electron is located. You have

  • l=0 the s subshell
  • l=1 the p subshell
  • l=2 the d subshell

In your case, the electron is located in the p subshell. Now, the p subshell contains a total of 3 orbitals as described by the magnetic quantum number, ml

  • ml=0 the pz orbital
  • ml=1 the px orbital
  • ml=+1 the pz orbital

In order to be able to specify the exact orbital in which the electron resides, you need to know the value of ml. Since that is not given to you, all you can say is that

n=3,l=1

The electron is located on the third energy level, in the p subshell.