Explain what each quantum number in a quantum number set tells you about the electron. Compare and contrast the locations and properties of two electrons within an atom that have the quantum number sets (2, 1, 0, +½) and (2, 0, 0, +½).

Question

anonymous · Answer

@genius12

kainui · Answer

The first number is the principal number. As it increases, the distance from the nucleus increases as well as the amount of energy. This should make a little bit of sense.

The second number is the azimuthal number represents what orbital it is in, s,p,d, or f.

The third is the magnetic number that sorts the electrons out into different angular momentum within the orbital and affects where the probability of finding the electron will be in the orbital.

The fourth is the spin number and an electron can only be in either a spin +1/2 or -1/2 state, so you can have two electrons that have all the same numbers but only vary by this + or -. This is basically why we talk about electron pairs instead of them by themselves most of the time.