What Are The Four Quantum Numbers.docx

What are the four quantum numbers? The sets of numerical values which give acceptable solutions to the Schrödinger wave equation for the hydrogen atom".

Explanation: The four quantum numbers are the principle quantum number, n, the angular momentum quantum number, l, the magnetic quantum number, ml, and the electron spin quantum number, ms. The principle quantum number, n, describes the energy and distance from the nucleus, and represents the shell. The angular momentum quantum number, l, describes the shape of the subshell and its orbitals, where l=0,1,2,3... corresponds to s,p,d, and f subshells (containing s,p,d,f orbitals), respectively. The magnetic quantum number , ml, describes the orientation of the orbitals (within the subshells) in space. The possible values for ml of any type of orbital (s,p,d,f...) is given by any integer value from −l to l. Finally, the electron spin quantum number, ms, has only two possible values, +12and−12. As the name implies, these values describe the spin of each electron in the orbital.