Question

Write a set of four possible quantum numbers for the circled electron.

Answer 1

Since there is no picture available, I provided my own example. Suppose we want to find the quantum numbers for the encircled electron shown. Draw the electronic configuration first. Next, the first quantum number n is 2 because is is located in the 2p shell. The second quantum number is 1 because the designated quantum number for the p subshell is 1. s subshell is 0, p is 1, d is 2 and f is 3. The third quantum number is 0 because it is in the middle 'box'. The middle is always 0, then counts to 1 (and so forth) to the right or -1 (and so forth) to the left. Finally, the last quantum number is +1 because it is spinning upwards. If it were downwards, it would be -1.

Hence, the quantum number for the specified electron is: 2, 1, 0, 1.