Question

What is the only possible value of ml for an electron in an s orbital?

Answer 1

Answer:

• zero

Explanation:

$m_l$     is the magnetic quantum number.

The only possible value for the magnetic quantum number for an electron in an s orbital is 0.

The first three quantun numbers are:

• n: principal quantum number. It may have positive integer values: 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, ...

• $l$ : Azimuthal or angular momentum quantum number. It may have integer values from 0 to n - 1.

       This quantum number is related to the type (or shape) of the orbital:

        For s orbitals $l=0$

        For p orbitals $l=1$

        For d orbitals $l=2$

         For f orbitals $l=3$

In this case, it is an s orbital, so we have $l=0$.

• $m_l$ , the third quantum number can have integer values  ${from-l}$   to    ${+l}$

       Since, for the s orbitals  $l=0$ , the only possible value for ${m_l}$ is zero.