What are the quantum numbers for the two valence electrons for the orbital diagram for magnesium?

Question

aaronq · Answer

in what orbital are the electrons in?

anonymous · Answer

the valence electrons are in the third orbital

aaronq · Answer

i mean using quantum numbers

anonymous · Answer

i dont know

aaronq · Answer

do you know how to write electron configurations?

anonymous · Answer

not really my teacher went over it but hardly anyone in my class understands

aaronq · Answer

it's pretty simple if you follow the aufbau principle (the order in which you put electrons into the orbitals). 

for example, carbon has 6 electrons, so $1s^22s^22p^2$

you follow arrows in the picture i attached
the superscripts are the number of electrons
large numbers are the principal quantum number, n
s, p,d, are orbitals (azimuthal quantum number, $l$); $l$=n-1
$m_l$ is the magnetic quantum number which has to do with the position of the orbital
$m_s$ is the spin quantum number, it's +1/2 or -1/2, depending on which space it occupies

so for example, the valence electron of carbon is in a 2p orbital
so n = 2
     $l$=n-1=1

$m_s$ =0, because there are 3 orbitals in the p series, the valence electron is in the second (you fill them from lowest to largestand you fill them one at a time, in this case -1,0,+1)

$m_s$=+1/2

anonymous · Answer

thank you so very much

aaronq · Answer

no problem, dude. i hope it's somewhat clearer