CHEMISTRY CLASS XI

CH-2 Structure of atom Part B

Notes:
Quantum Numbers: Quantum numbers may be defined as a set of four numbers with the help of which we
can get complete information about all the electrons in an atom, i.e., location, energy, type of orbital occupied,
shape and orientation of that orbital, etc.

The various quantum numbers are:

Principal Quantum number (n):
• The principal quantum number ‘n’ is a positive integer with value of n = 1, 2, 3....... .
• The principal quantum number determines the size and to large extent the energy of the orbital.
• The principal quantum number also identifies the shell.
• All the orbitals of a given value of ‘n’ constitute a single shell of atom and are represented by the
following letters
n = 1 2 3 4 ............
Shell = K L M N ............
• Size of an orbital increases with increase of principal quantum number ‘n’. In other words the electron
will be located away from the nucleus. Since energy is required in shifting away the negatively charged
electron from the positively charged nucleus, the energy of the orbital will increase with increase of n.

Azimuthal quantum number (l):

• ‘l’ is also known as orbital angular momentum or subsidiary quantum number .
• It defines the three dimensional shape of the orbital.
• For a given value of n, l can have n values ranging from 0 to n – 1, that is, for a given value of n, the
possible value of l are : l = 0, 1, 2, .......... (n–1)
For example, when n = 1, value of l is only 0.
For n = 2, the possible value of l can be 0 and 1.
For n = 3, the possible l values are 0, 1 and 2.
• Each shell consists of one or more subshells or sub-levels.
• The number of subshells in a principal shell is equal to the value of n.
For example in the first shell (n = 1), there is only one sub-shell which corresponds to l = 0. There are
two sub-shells (l = 0, 1) in the second shell (n = 2), three (l = 0, 1, 2) in third shell (n = 3) and so on.

Value of l for different subshells

Subshell l
s 0
p 1
d 2
f 3
g 4

Possible value of l for given value of n

n l Designations
1 0 1s
2 0,1 2s, 2p
3 0,1,2 3s, 3p, 3d
4 0,1,2,3 4s, 4p, 4d, 4f

Magnetic orbital quantum number(ml):

• ‘ml’ gives information about the spatial orientation of the orbital with respect to standard set of co-
ordinate axis.
• For any sub-shell (defined by ‘l’ value) 2l+1 values of ml are possible and these values are given by:
ml = – l, – (l–1), – (l–2)... 0,1... (l–2), (l–1), l
Thus for l=0, the only permitted value of m l = 0, [2(0)+1 = 1, one s orbital].
For l = 1, ml can be –1, 0 and +1 [2(1)+1 = 3, three p orbitals].
For l = 2, ml = –2, –1, 0, +1 and +2, [2(2)+1 = 5, five d orbitals].
 l ml=2l+1= Number of orbitals Values assigned to orbitals
0 1 0
1 3 -1,0,1
2 5 -2,-1,0,1,2
3 7 -3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3
4 9 -4,-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,4

• The values of ml are derived from l and that the value of l are derived from n.
• Each orbital in an atom, therefore, is defined by a set of values for n, l and ml. An orbital described by
the quantum numbers n = 2, l = 1, ml = 0 is an orbital in the p subshell of the second shell.
• The following chart gives the relation between the sub-shell and the number of orbitals associated with
it.

Electron spin ‘s’ or ‘ms’:

• Spin quantum number known as the electron spin quantum number (ms). An electron spins around its
own axis, much in a similar way as earth spins around its own axis while revolving around the sun.
• Spin angular momentum of the electron — a vector quantity, can have two orientations relative to the
chosen axis. These two orientations are distinguished by the spin quantum numbers m s which can take
the values of +½ or –½. These are called the two spin states of the electron and are normally
represented by two arrows, ↑ (spin up) and ↓ (spin down).
• Two electrons that have different ms values (one +½ and the other –½) are said to have opposite spins.
• An orbital cannot hold more than two electrons and these two electrons should have opposite spins.

To sum up, the four quantum numbers provide the following information:
i) n defines the shell, determines the size of the orbital and also to a large extent the energy of the orbital.
ii) There are n subshells in the nth shell. l identifies the subshell and determines the shape of the orbital.
There are (2l+1) orbitals of each type in a subshell, that is, one s orbital (l = 0), three p orbitals (l = 1)
and five d orbitals (l = 2) per subshell. To some extent l also determines the energy of the orbital in a
multi-electron atom.
iii) ml designates the orientation of the orbital. For a given value of l, ml has (2l+1) values, the same as
the number of orbitals per subshell. It means that the number of orbitals is equal to the number of ways
in which they are oriented.
iv) ms or s refers to orientation of the spin of the electron.

SUMMARY:
Total Number of subshells : n
Total Number of orbitals : n2
Total number of electrons : 2n2

Qunatum Numbers Symbols Values

Principal Quantum Number n 1,2,3,4….
Azimuthal Quantum Number l 0,1,2,3,4
Magnetic Quantum Number ml -l to + l
Spin Quantum Number ms or s -1/2 or +1/2
Practice Question:
Q1. Assign notation and designation:

n l Designation
1 0
3 2
4 1
2 1
4 0
5 3

Q2. What is the total number of orbitals associated with the principal quantum number n = 3?
Q3. Using s, p, d, f notations, describe the orbital with the following quantum numbers (a) n = 2, l = 1,
(b) n = 4, l = 0, (c) n = 5, l = 3, (d) n = 3, l =2
Q4. (a) How many sub-shells are associated with n = 4?
(b) How many electrons will be present in the sub-shells having ms value of –1/2 for n = 4?
Q5. Among the following pairs of orbitals which orbital will experience the larger effective nuclear charge?
(i) 2s and 3s, (ii) 4d and 4f, (iii) 3d and 3p.
Q6. The unpaired electrons in Al and Si are present in 3p orbital. Which electrons will experience more effective
nuclear charge from the nucleus?
Q7. The bromine atom possesses 35 electrons. It contains 6 electrons in 2p orbital, 6 electrons in 3p orbital
and 5 electron in 4p orbital. Which of these electron experiences the lowest effective nuclear charge?
Q8. What is the lowest value of n that allows g orbitals to exist?
Q9. An electron is in one of the 3d orbitals. Give the possible values of n, l and ml for this electron
Q10. Using s, p, d notations, describe the orbital with the following quantum numbers. (a) n=1, l=0;
(b) n = 3; l=1 (c) n = 4; l =2; (d) n=4; l=3.
Q11. (i) An atomic orbital has n = 3. What are the possible values of l and ml?
(ii) List the quantum numbers (ml and l ) of electrons for 3d orbital.
(iii) Which of the following orbitals are possible? 1p, 2s, 2p and 3f
Q12. Explain, giving reasons, which of the following sets of quantum numbers are not possible.

Q13. How many electrons in an atom may have the following quantum numbers? (a) n = 4, ms = +½
(b) n = 3, l = 0

Differences
Orbit Orbital
An orbit is well define circular path around the nucleus An orbital is the three dimensional space around the
in which the electrons revolve. nucleus within which the probability of finding the
electron is maximum.
It represents the planar motion of the electron around It represents three dimensional motion of an electron
the nucleus. around the nucleus.
The concept of an orbit is not in accordance with the The concept of an orbital is in accordance with the wave
wave character of electrons and uncertainty principle. character of electrons and uncertainty principle.
All orbits are circular and disc like. Different orbitals have different shapes i.e. s orbital are
spherically symmetrical, p orbitals are dumb-bell
shaped and so on.
Orbits do not have any directional characteristics. All orbitals except s orbitals have directional
characteristics.
The maximum number of electrons in any orbit is given The maximum number of electrons present in any
by 2n2 where n number of the orbit. orbital is two.
Particle Wave
A particle occupies a well-defined or localized position in A wave is delocalized or spread out in space.
space.
Two particles cannot occupy the same position in space. Two or more waves can exist simultaneously (or co-
In other words, the particles do not interfere with each exist) in space. In other words, they can interfere with
other. each other.
If two or more particles are present in the same region If two or more waves are present in the same region,
in space, their sum is equal to the number of the then due to interference, the resultant wave can be
individual particles. either smaller or bigger than the individual waves.
Particles can be counted. Waves cannot be counted.