Electron LocationPart II

Principal quantum number (n) - describes the SIZE of the orbital or ENERGY LEVEL of the atom.

Angular quantum number (l) or sublevels - describes the SHAPE of the orbital.

Magnetic quantum number (m) - describes an orbital's ORIENTATION in space.

Spin quantum number (s) - describes the SPIN or direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise) in which an electron spins.

Quantum Numbers

Principle Quantum Number (n) or Energy Level integer values used to specify the shell/size/level the electron is

in describes how far away from the nucleus the electron shell or

level under consideration is the lower the number, the closer the energy level is to the atom's

nucleus and less energy maximum # of electrons that can fit in an energy level is given by

formula 2n2

Angular Quantum Number (l) or Sub-level determines the shape of the orbital they are numbered but are also given

letters referring to the orbital type l=0 refers to the s-orbitals

l=1 refers to the p-orbitals l=2 refers to the d-orbitals

l=3 refers to the f-orbitals

Magnetic quantum number (m) or Orbitals the third of a set of quantum numbers tells us how many orbitals there are of a particular

type and their orientation in space of a particular orbital

only two electrons can fit in an orbital = electron

S – orbitalsS – orbitalsonly holds two electronsonly holds two electrons

P – orbitalsP – orbitalsholds up to six electronsholds up to six electrons

http://www.ul.ie/~walshem/fyp/porbital.gif

P - orbitalsP - orbitals

D – orbitalsD – orbitalsholds up to 10 electronsholds up to 10 electrons

F – orbitalsF – orbitalsholds up to 14 electronsholds up to 14 electrons

http://www.shsu.edu/~chm_tgc/BbAIF/PDBs/applet/PDBorbitals.html

Spin quantum number (s)

the fourth of a set of quantum numbers number specifying the direction of the spin

of an electron around its own axis. only two electrons of opposite spin may

occupy an orbit the only possible values of a spin quantum

number are +1/2 or -1/2.

Principle Quantum # (n)LEVEL/SIZE 1 2 3 4

Angular Quantum # (l)

ORBITAL SHAPE or

SUBLEVEL

s s p s p d s p d f

Magnetic Quantum #

(m)AXIS/

ORIENTATION

or ORBITALS

1

1 orbital

1 3

4 totalorbitals

1 3 5

9 total orbitals

1 3 5 7

16 total orbitals

Spin Quantum # (s)

DIRECTION OF

ELECTRON SPIN

2 e- 8 e- 18 e- 32 e-

Table 3-6b Orbitals and Electron Capacity of the First Four Principle Energy Levels

Principle energy level (n)

Type of sublevel

Number of orbitals per type

Number of orbitals

per level(n2)

Maximum number of electrons

(2n2)

1 s 1 1 2

2s 1

4 8p 3

3

s 1

9 18p 3

d 5

4

s 1

16 32p 3

d 5

f 7