Quantum Numbers - Revised

Each electron is described by four quantum numbers

\(n\) −1, 2, 3, 4, 5

• Energy level - This is effectively the period number
• The first number in the orbital descriptor
  • \(\textbf{3}d^5\)

\(l\) −1(s), 2(s, p), 3(s, p, d), 4(s, p, d, f)

• Angular momentum/subshell - describes the shape of the orbital
• The letter in the orbital descriptor
  • \(3\textbf{d}^5\)

\(m_l\)

• The shape of the orbital
• The dimensionality of the orbital descriptor
• \(3d_{\textbf{xy}}^2\)

\(m_s\)

• Electron spin
• Can be +½ or −½