Problem #1: Which of the following is a possible set of quantum numbers that

describes an electron?

(a) n = 3, ℓ = 2, mℓ = −3, ms = −‫½آ‬ (d) n = 3, ℓ = 1, mℓ = −1, ms = +1⁄2

(b) n = 0, ℓ = 0, mℓ = 0, ms = +1⁄2 (e) n = 4, ℓ = −3, mℓ = −1, ms = +1
(c) n = 4, ℓ = 2, mℓ = −1, ms = 0 (f) none

Solution:

The solution is to look at each one and see if there is a violation of the rules for
each quantum number. My technique is to look at n and ms first.

1) Look at n and see that . . .

. . . (b) violates the rule that n starts at 1, so (b) is not the answer.

2) Look at ms and see that . . .

. . . (c) and (e) both fail. ms can only take on one of two values: +1⁄2 or −1⁄2

3) Now you look at combos. The first choice is to examine n, ℓ pairs:

choice (a) ---> When n = 3, the ℓ values can be 0, 1, 2. So, (a) is good.
choice (d) ---> again, n = 3, so the ℓ value of 1 is an acceptable value.

Nothing has been eliminated by looking at n, ℓ values as a pair, so we move on.

4) The next pairing to consider is the ℓ, mℓ pair:

choice (a) ---> when ℓ = 2, the mℓ values are allowed to be −2, −1, 0, 1, 2. The
value in choice (a) is −3, which is not allowed.

5) Since choice (f) is none, we must examine our last remaining choice to see if
it is possible or not.

answer choice (d):

n = 3 ---> meets the rule for n
ms ---> meets the rule for ms
n, ℓ ---> 3, 1 meets the rule
ℓ, mℓ ---> meets the rule

The answer to the question is choice (d).

Problem #2: Each electron orbital is characterized by 3 quantum numbers: n,
ℓ, and mℓ.

n is known as the ____ quantum number.

ℓ is known as the ____ quantum number.
mℓ is known as the ____ quantum number.

Solution:

n is the principal quantum number

ℓ is the azimuthal quantum number
mℓ is the magnetic quantum number

By the way, you sometimes see n labeled as the Principle Quantum Number.
This is an incorrect usage of the word principle. ℓ can also (correctly) be called
the angular momentum quantum number.

Problem #3: Each electron orbital is characterized by 3 quantum numbers: n,

ℓ, and mℓ.

n specifies ___.
ℓ specifies ___.
mℓ specifies ___.

(a) The subshell or orbital shape.

(b) The energy and average distance from the nucleus.
(c) The orbital orientation.

Solution:

n specifies the energy level and average distance from nucleus

ℓ specifies the subshell or orbital shape
mℓ specifies the orbital orientation

Problem #4: Give the orbital designation (1s, 2p, 3d, etc.) of electrons with the
following combination of principal and azimuthal quantum numbers.
(a) n = 1, ℓ = 0
(b) n = 2, ℓ = 1
(c) n = 3, ℓ = 2
(d) n = 5, ℓ = 3
(e) n = 6, ℓ = 0
(f) n = 4, ℓ = 2

A handy guide to the ℓ values and subshell/orbital names (s, p, d, f, and so on)
is this:

ℓ ---> 0 1 2 3 4
subshell ---> s p d f g

Solution:

(a) n = 1, ℓ = 0

n = 1 tells us that the shell number will be 1.

ℓ = 0 tells us that it will be the 's' subshell.

The orbital designation is 1s.

(b) n = 2, ℓ = 1

n = 2 tells us that the shell number will be 2.

ℓ = 1 tells us that it will be the 'p' subshell.

The orbital designation is 2p.

(c) n = 3, ℓ = 2
n = 3 tells us that the shell number will be 3.

ℓ = 2 tells us that it will be the 'd' subshell.

The orbital designation is 3d.

(d) n = 5, ℓ = 3

n = 5 tells us that the shell number will be 5.

ℓ = 3 tells us that it will be the 'f' subshell.

The orbital designation is 5f.

(e) n = 6, ℓ = 0

n = 6 tells us that the shell number will be 6.

ℓ = 0 tells us that it will be the 's' subshell.

The orbital designation is 6s.

(f) n = 4, ℓ = 2

n = 4 tells us that the shell number will be 4.

ℓ = 2 tells us that it will be the 'd' subshell.

The orbital designation is 4d.

Problem #5: For the quantum number ℓ values below, how many possible
values are there for the quantum number mℓ?

(a) 5; (b) 3; (c) 2; (d) 1

Solution:

The rule for mℓ is that, given the ℓ value, we start at −ℓ and go by integers to
zero and then to +ℓ. We can use this formula to determine how many mℓ values
for a given ℓ: 2ℓ + 1.

(a) For ℓ = 5, the mℓ values are −5, −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a total of
eleven values.

(b) Seven values of mℓ resulting from 2(3) + 1 = 7

(c) 2ℓ + 1 gives five values. The enumeration is −2, −1, 0, 1, 2.

(d) Three values (−1, 0, 1) or 2(1) + 1 = 3

Problem #6: What does a set of four quantum numbers tell you about an
electron? Compare and contrast the locations and properties of two electrons
with quantum number sets (4, 3, 1, +1⁄2) and (4, 3, −1, +1⁄2).

Solution:

The two electrons exist in the same shell (n = 4), same subshell (ℓ = 3). The
particular subshell involved is the 4f.

The two electrons are in different orbitals with the 4f subshell. We know this
by the differing mℓ values.

The two electrons have the same spin (ms = +1⁄2).

Problem #7: Identify the shell/subshell that each of the following sets of
quantum numbers refers to.

(a) n = 2, ℓ = 1, mℓ = 1, ms = +1⁄2
(b) n = 3, ℓ = 2, mℓ = 2, ms = +1⁄2
(c) n = 4, ℓ = 1, mℓ = −1, ms = −1⁄2
(d) n = 4, ℓ = 3, mℓ = 3, ms = −1⁄2
(e) n = 5, ℓ = 0, mℓ = 0, ms = +1⁄2

Solution:

The solution procedure involves looking at the n, ℓ pairings. The mℓ and ms do

not play a role in answering this question.

The n values tells us the first half of the answer. The ℓ values tells us the
second half of the answer. Follow this guide:

ℓ ---> 0 1 2 3 4
subshell ---> s p d f g

(a) 2, 1 ---> 2p
(b) 3, 2 ---> 3d
(c) 4, 1 ---> 4p
(d) 4, 3 ---> 4f
(e) 5, 0 ---> 5s
Problem #8: Which of the following set of quantum numbers (ordered n, ℓ, mℓ,
ms) are possible for an electron in an atom?

Select all that apply:

(a) 3, 2, 2, −1⁄2 (f) 5, 3, −3, +1⁄2

(b) 2, 1, 3, +1⁄2 (g) 3, 1, −2, −1⁄2
(c) −3, 2, 2, −1⁄2 (h) 5, 3, 0, +1⁄2
(d) 3, 3, 1, −1⁄2 (i) 3, 2, −1, ±1⁄2
(e) 3, 2, 1, −1

Solution:

Let us find the correct ones by removing all the sets that are incorrect.

1) When scanning for incorrect sets, the first step is to scan the ms values. Since
this value can only be +1⁄2 or −1⁄2, we can quickly remove any incorrect ones and
not have to analyze their n, ℓ, and mℓ values.

We see that (e) with ms = −1 and (i) with ms = ±1⁄2 violate the rule for ms.
Remember, ms can be EITHER positive 1⁄2 or negative 1⁄2 in the set of four
quantum numbers, not both at the same time.

2) Next, scan for incorrect n values:

We see that (c) with n = −3 violates the rule for n.

3) Scan for problems with the relationship between n and ℓ:

In (d), there is a violation of the rule for generating permissible ℓ from the
given n. When n = 3, ℓ may only take on the values of 0, 1, and 2.

4) Scan for problems with the relationship between ℓ: and mℓ

In (b), there is a violation of the rule for generating permissible mℓ from the
given ℓ. When ℓ = 1, the permitted values for mℓ are −1, 0, and 1. A value of 3
is not allowed. (g) shows the same mistake. When ℓ = 1, mℓ cannot equal −2.

5) Examination of (a), (f), and (h) will show that these sets of quantum numbers
adhere to all the rules. Verification of this is left to the student.
Problem #9: For principal quantum number n = 4, the total number of orbitals
having ℓ = 3 is?

Solution:

With ℓ = 3 we examine the mℓ values to determine how many orbitals are

present:
by enumeration: 3, 2, 1, 0, −1, −2, −3 ---> 7 orbitals
by formula: 2ℓ + 1 leads to 2(3) + 1 = 7

Problem #10: The maximum number of electrons that can have principal
quantum number n = 3 and spin −1⁄2 is?

Solution:

We need to determine the total number of mℓ values possible. With n = 3, ℓ can

be 0, 1, 2.
ℓ ---> 0 1 2
2ℓ + 1 ---> 1 3 5 <--- nine orbitals total

Each orbital can have one electron with ms = −1⁄2 Nine orbitals, each with one
electron of −1⁄2 gives the answer to be 9.

And, just as a reminder, notice that the total number of mℓ states can be given
by the formula (2ℓ + 1).

Bonus Problem: Give the maximum number of electrons in an atom that can
have these quantum numbers:

(a) n = 4
(b) n = 5, mℓ = +1
(c) n = 5, ms = +1⁄2
(d) n = 3, ℓ = 2
(e) n = 1, ℓ = 0, mℓ = 0

Solution:
(a) n = 4

The total number of mℓ values (derived from all possible ℓ states for a given n
value) is given by n2. This gives us 16 mℓ values when n = 4. Here is a listing
of the mℓ values when n = 4:
ℓ mℓ total mℓ
0 0 1
1 −1, 0, 1 3
2 −2, −1, 0, 1, 2 5
3 −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3 7
4 −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 9

Since you also have to include ms, you multiply n2 by 2 to get the maximum
amount of electrons in the entire energy level:

2n2

2(4)2

32

(b) n = 5, mℓ = 1

The value of ℓ has not been specified; therefore, we need to take into account
all the possibilities for ℓ. When n = 5, the permitted values for ℓ are 0, 1, 2, 3,
4. Let's look at each ℓ in the context of mℓ being equal to 1.

When ℓ = 0, mℓ can only equal 0. ℓ = 0 is not part of the correct answer

When ℓ = 1, mℓ can take on the values of −1, 0, 1. ℓ = 1 is part of the correct

answer.

In like manner, ℓ = 2, 3, 4 are all part of the correct answer. Here are the
mℓ values:

ℓ=2 mℓ = −2, −1, 0, 1, 2

ℓ=3 mℓ = −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3
ℓ=4 mℓ = −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4

Each ℓ value has an mℓ of 1 allowed.

Four different orbitals (n, ℓ, mℓ just below) are possible for n = 5 and mℓ = 1:

5, 1, 1 5, 2, 1 5, 3, 1 5, 4, 1

Each orbital can hold two electrons (ms = +1⁄2 and ms = −1⁄2), so the total number
of electrons is 8.

(c) n = 5, ms = +1⁄2

The problem is very similar to (b), except that ms is given. This value
corresponds to a single electron within an mℓ value. Therefore, we need to find
out how many numbers of mℓ we have in order to know the number of max
electrons.

Like before, ℓ = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. Since mℓ is not specified we have to take all

possible mℓ values for each ℓ value and add them together:

ℓ 2ℓ + 1 Total mℓ
0 2(0) + 1 1
1 2(1) + 1 3
2 2(2) + 1 5
3 2(3) + 1 7
4 2(4) + 1 9

Notice that the total number of mℓ states can be given by the formula (2ℓ + 1).

Thus, the total number of mℓ states is (1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9) = 25. This is the

highest number of electrons with ms = +1⁄2.

You might be required to enumerate all the mℓ values as opposed to just stating
how many there are using the (2ℓ + 1) formula. In that case:

ℓ mℓ values Total mℓ
0 0 1
1 −1, 0, 1 3
2 −2, −1, 0, 1, 2 5
3 −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3 7
4 −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 9

(d) n = 3, ℓ = 2
The only numbers not specified are mℓ and ms. You have to determine all the
possibilities for them:
# of mℓ = 2ℓ + 1 = 2(2) + 1 = 5

There will be two electrons per mℓ state (ms = +1⁄2 and −1⁄2) therefore, maximum
number of electrons is 5 x 2 = 10.

(e) n = 1, ℓ = 0, mℓ = 0

The only number not specified is ms. Consequently, there are only two
electrons that can have the 3 values given. The quantum numbers for those two
electrons are:
1, 0, 0, +1⁄2
1, 0, 0, −1⁄2