Answer:
Quantum numbers of the outermost electron in potassium:
.
.
.
- Either
.
Explanation:
Refer to the electron configuration of a potassium atom. The outermost electron in a ground-state potassium atom is in the orbital (fourth
orbital.)
The quantum number (the principal quantum number) specifies the main energy shell of an electron. This electron is in the fourth main energy shell (as seen in the number four in the orbital.) Hence,
for this electron.
The quantum number (the angular momentum quantum number) specifies the shape (
,
,
, etc.) of an electron.
for
orbitals (such as the one that contains this electron.
Quantum numbers and
specify the shape of an orbital. On the other hand, the magnetic quantum number
specifies the orientation of these orbitals in space.
However, orbitals are spherical. Regardless of the value of
, the only possible
value for electrons in
orbitals is
.
The spin quantum number distinguishes between the two electrons in an orbital. The two possible values of
are
and
. Typically, the first electron in an orbital is assigned an upward (
) spin, which corresponds to
.