M2W2

Quantum numbers
Hund’s Rules
I. Learning competencies/ Objectives

 Use quantum numbers to describe an electron in an atom

 Draw and orbital diagram to represent electron configuration of atom

II. Lesson proper

A. Introduction.

Quantum numbers is definitely like knowing your address.

Province City/Municipality Barangay Purok/Street# /house #

Address e.g. Cebu e.g. Talisay e.g. San Isidro Z2-389 Sacred Heart
Vill.
Quantum Principal Angular Momentum Magnetic Quantum Spin Quantum Number
numbers Quantum Quantum Number Number
number
(n) (l) (ml) (ms)
B. Discussion

Quantum Numbers Symbol Possible values

Principal Quantum Number n 1,2,3,4,5,……….
Angular Momentum Quantum Number l 0,1,2,3,4,………(n-1)
Magnetic Quantum Number ml - l, . . . , -1,0,1, . . . ,l
Spin Quantum Number ms +1/2, -1/2
Quantum numbers

A total of four quantum numbers are used to describe completely the movement and trajectories
of each electron within an atom. The combination of all quantum numbers of all electrons in an atom is
described by a wave function that complies with the Schrodinger equation. Each electron in an atom has a
unique set of quantum numbers; according to the Pauli Exclusions Principle, no two electrons can share
the same combination of four quantum numbers. Quantum numbers are important because they can be
used to determine the electron configuration of an atom, and the probable location of atom’s electrons.
Quantum numbers are used to understand other characteristics of atoms, such as ionization energy and the
atomic radius.

Principle Quantum Number (n)

Designates the principal electron shell. Because n describes the most probable distance of the
electrons from the nucleus, the large the n is , the further the electrons is from the nucleus, the larger the
size of the orbital, and the larger the atom is. n can any be positive integer starting at 1, as n = 1
designates the first principal shell (the innermost shell). The first principal number is also called the
ground state, or lowest energy state. This explain why n can not be zero or any negative integer, because
there exists no atoms with zero or a negative amount of energy levels/ principal shell. When the electrons
is an excited state or it gains energy, it may jump to the second principal shell, where “n” = 2. This is
called absorption because the electron is ‘absorbing, photons, or energy. Known as emission, electrons
can also ‘emit’ energy as they jump to lower principal shells, where ‘n’ decreases by whole numbers. As
the energy of the electron increases, so does the principal quantum number, e.g.. n=3 indicates the third
principal shell, n=4 indicates fourth principal shell, and so on….

N = 1,2,3,4,5,…..

Example

1. If n=7, What is the principal electron shell?

Answer: 7

2. if an electron jumped from energy level n=5 to energy level n=3, did absorption or emission of a
photon occur?

Answer:

The Orbital Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l)

Determine the shape of an orbital, and therefore the angular distribution. The number of angular
nodes is equal to the value of the angular momentum quantum number (l). Each value of l indicates a
specific “s,p,d,f” subshell (each with unique shape). The value of l is dependent on the principal quantum
number n. Unlike n, the value of l can be zero. It can be also be a positive integer, but it cannot be larger
than ones less than the principal quantum number (n-1):

l= 0,1,2,3,4,…… (n-1)

Sub shell Value

S 0
P 1
D 2
F 3

Example:

1. If n=7, what is the possible values of l?

Answer: l = n-1

l = 7-1

l=6

2. If 1=4, how many angular nodes does the atom have?

Answer: 4

Magnetic Quantum Number (ml)

It determines the number of orbitals and their orientation within a subshell. Its value depends on
the orbital angular momentum quantum number (l). Given a certain l, m l is an interval ranging from -1 to
+1, so it can be zero, a negative integer, or a positive integer.

ml = -l , -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, +l

Subshell l ml
S 0 0
P 1 -1, 0, +1
D 2 -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
F 3 -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3

The electron Spin Quantum Number (ms)

It designate the direction of the electron spin and may have a spin of +1/2, represented by ↑, or
-1/2, represented by ↓. This means that ms is positive the electron has an upward spin, which can be
referred as “spin up”. When it is negative, the electron has downward spin, so it “spin down”. The
significance of the electron spin quantum number is its determination of an atom’s ability to generate a
magnetic field or not.

1
m s= ±
2

The subshell

The number of values of the orbital angular number l can also be used to identify the number of
subshells in a principal electron shell:

 When n=1, l= 0 (l takes on one value and thus there can only be one subshell)
 When n=2, l= 0, 1 (I takes on two values and thus there are two possible subshells)
 When n=3, l= 0, 1, 2 ( l takes on takes on three value and thus there are three possible subshells)

Simply:

 Principal shell with n = 1 has one subshell

 Principal shell with n = 2 has two subshell
 Principal shell with n = 3 has three subshell

To identify what type of possible subshells l has, these subshells have been assigned letter names. The
value of l determines the name of the subshell:

s subshell = 0 d subshell = 2

p subshell = 1 f subshell = 3
Restrictions:

 Pauli Exclusion Principle: In 1926, Wolfgang Pauli discovered that the set of quantum numbers
is specific to a certain electron. That is, no two electrons can have the same values for n,l,m l,ms .
Although the first three quantum numbers identify a specific orbital and may have the same
values, the fourth is significant and must have opposite spin.

 Hund’s Rule: Orbitals may have identical energy levels when they are of the same principal
shell. These orbitals are called degenerate or equal energy. According to Hund’s Rule, electrons
fill the orbitals one at a time. This means that when drawing electron configurations using the
model with the arrows, you must fill each shell with one electron each before starting to pair them
up. Remember that the charge of electrons is negative and electrons repel each other. Electrons
will try to create distance between it and other electrons by staying unpaired. This further
explains why the spins of electrons in an orbital are positive (+1/2, -1/2)

C. Practice

Name: _________________________________ Module Code: _________ Date: ________

Teacher: _______________________________ Subject: ______________ Score: _______

Instruction: Draw the orbital diagram of the following elements, and identify the quantum numbers of the
last most orbital. n=2
l =0
Ex. Beryllium: Orbital diagram= ↑↓ ↑↓ Quantum numbers = ml = 0
ms = -1/2
1S 2
2S 2 Note: Since s is the
sublevel therefore l= 0 and
ml = 0, -1/2 spin is
negative for the last arrow
you paired with is
downward direction.

1. Iron

2. Potassium

3. Zinc
 4. Argon

5. Tellurium

D. Summary

 Principal quantum number (n) describe the energy of an electron and the most probable distance
of the electron from the nucleus. It refers to the size of the orbital and the energy level of the
electron is placed.
 The number of subshell, (l), describe the shape of the orbital. It can also be determine by the
number of angular nodes.
 Magnetic quantum number, ml, describes the energy levels in subshell
 The electron spin quantum number, refers to the spin on the electron, which can either be up (+)
or down(-)

E. Extended work

Name: _________________________________ Module Code: _________ Date: ________

Teacher: _______________________________ Subject: ______________ Score: _______

Instruction: Read and analyze each question. Write the letter on the space provided.

___1. What is the correct representation for an orbit which has an “n” value of 4 and an “l” value of 2?

a. 4d c. 4f
b. 4s d. 4p

___2. How many orbitals in the d subshell?

a. 1 c. 7
b. 3 d. 5

___3. For a p subshell, “l” equals __.

 a. 0 c. 2
b. 1 d. 3

___4. What is the correct representation for an orbit which has an “n” value of 3 and an “l” value of 1?

a. 3s c. 3d
b. 3p d. 3f

___5. For the quantum number. “l”, equal to 2, an “m” value of -1, permitted?

a. Yes b. No

___6. Is the 5p orbital permitted?

a. Yes b. No

___7. For the principle quantum number. “n”, equal to 2, what is the total electron capacity of that level?

a. 2 c. 8
b. 4 d. 16

___8. For a principle quatum number. “n”, equal to 6, is it possible for “l” to be equal to 7?

a. Yes b. No

___9. The fourth energy level (n=4) has how many total orbitals?

a. 2 c. 8
b. 4 d. 16

___10. Is the following quantum numbers (n,l,ml,ms) possible?

a. Yes b. No

F. Assignment

Give the answer of the following questions.

Explain:

Why is the fourth quantum number necessary?

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III. Additional resources

Physical Chemistry for the bioscience, 2005

Introductory Chemistry. The Forum: A contribution for the task force on General Chemistry, 1996

General Chemistry: Principles and modern adaptations, tenth edition