Question

Problem page an electron in an atom is known to be in a state with magnetic quantum number =ml−2 . what is the smallest possible value of the principal quantum number n of the state?

Answer 1

n = 3. The principal quantum number must be at least 3 to have a magnetic quantum number ml = -2

The rules are:

• n > 0

• l < n

• |ml| ≤ l

Thus, if ml = -2, l ≥ 2.

If l ≥ 2 and n > l, the allowed values of n are 3, 4, 5, etc.

The smallest allowed value of n is n  = 3.

Answer 2

Answer:

n=3

Explanation:

Hello,

Magnetic number accounts for the energy levels of electrons within the subshells, in such a way, if ml=2 or -2, we realize that such atom has five subshells, -2,-1,0,1,2 (magnetic number equal to 2) which are contained into the third shell, this is n=3.

This is known due to the fact that the first shell has the subshell 0 and the second shell the subshells -1,0,1.

Best regards.