Interpretation of Quantum numbers:
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Praveenkumar Hiremath
December 25,2015
Quantum numbers:
Quantum numbers are some sort of numbers or sets of values of quantities
which are conserved(just like conservation of energy,linear and angular momenta,electric charge)in the dynamics of a Quantum system(A system where
Quantum laws dominate). Quantum numbers are used for the full analysis of
an electron in an atom. There are four main quantum numbers:
Principal Quantum Number(n):
The Principal quantum Number n indicates the possible shells for electrons to reside/exist around the nucleus of an [Link] is an uncertainty
in measuring position and momentum simultaneously in these shells.n
takes +ve integer values like 1,2,3,4....and n=1 is K-shell,n=2 is L-shell,n=3
is M-shell,n=4 is N-shell an so on. This quantum number also corresponds
to the energy of electron in nth [Link] shell has 2n2 quantum states
and two electrons cannot have same quantum states,according to Pauli
exclusion principle
Orbital Angular Momentum Quantum number or Azimuthal Quantum
Number(l):
An Orbital is a wave function/mathemeatical function or simply a region
in space around nucleus in every shell where one can probably find the electron around nucleus in that [Link] quantum numbers n(previous),
l(here),m(next) are mainly associated with [Link] can be maximum of two electrons in an [Link] electron in an orbital has its own
spin quantum number(discussed next). l is the Orbital Angular Momentum Quantum number or Azimuthal Quantum Number.l characterizing
an orbital is the angular momentum and hence this is where the name
orbital angular momentum quantum number comes [Link] orbit/shell
n yields l=0,1,2,...[Link] l=0 represents s-orbital,l=1 represents porbital,l=2 represents d-orbital,l=3 represents [Link] number
l tells us what type of orbitals are present in a particular shell.
Magnetic Quantum Number(ml ):
This quantum number represents the angular momentum vector component in an orbital. This takes 2l+1 values for each value of [Link]:for
l=0(s-orbital),ml has one value which is [Link] corresponds to one vector
component of s orbital. This gives away the fact that s-orbital is spherical in [Link] for l=1(p-orbital),ml has three values=-1,0,[Link]
for l=2(d-orbital), ml has five values = -2,-1,0,1,[Link] tells us that dorbital has five [Link] l=3(f-orbital),ml has seven values = 3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3. Now suppose,n=4(N-shell),l=3(f-orbital).Then we will get
seven components and these components are 4fy3 -3x2 y (ml =-3), 4fxyz (ml =2),4f5yz2 -yr2 s (ml =-1),4fz3 -3zr2 (ml =0), 4f5xz2 -xr2 (ml =+1),4fzx2 -zy2 (ml =+2),
4fx3 -3xy2 (ml =+3).Each ml has quantum states which are represented by
spin quantum number(explained in the next part).
Spin Quantum Number(ms ):
Only two electrons can exist in each component of an [Link] electrons has again have opposite spins resulting two different possible quantum states in that [Link] states are represented by spin quantum number ms .This spin of electrons gives rise to their permanent magnetic [Link] each orbital component,ms has values +1/2 or -1/2.
Iron is a transition metal(d-block element) with atomic number [Link]
electronic configuration Fe is as follows using the quantum numbers discusssed
above. 1s2 ,2s2 2p6 ,3s2 3p6 ,4s2 ,3d6 .This indicates that there are six electrons
in d-orbital(l=2,ml =5-values=-2,-1,0,+1,+2).Hunds rule suggests that these 5
components are first filled with same spin electrons.4 d-orbital components are
half [Link] results in net magnetic moment of the [Link] the completely
filled d-orbital, we have two electrons(one with up-spin and one with downspin because these electrons are entangled particles).The four incompletely filled
components of d-orbital need not have only electrons with [Link] can
have down spin too. This is because in quantum mechanics,it is suggested
that the act of measuring makes the particles(electrons) attain a quantum state
else they can be in any possible quantum state leaving the entangled particle
to attain counter-quantum state. This is the reason for Fe-atoms to have a
local magnetic moment in a crystal which leads to its ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic nature. [Note:There can exist two electrons with the same spin
in an Molecular orbital.]