Quantum Numbers
There are four quantum numbers used to describe atomic electron configurations - they help determine where an electron will be at any given time. Each electron has four numbers:
1. Principal quantum number (N) : The electron shell
Describes the shell number and relative size of the orbital that the electron is in. It must be at least 1. We saw how the shell worked in the shell model.
2 Angular quantum number (ℓ) :shape of its orbital
The atomic orbital is a function that shows the path of electrons around an atom.The shape of the orbital of the electron can be described as spherical (l=0), polar (1) cloverleaf (2) and even more complex shapes. This number starts from 0 to n-1.
3. Magnetic quantum number (mℓ): Specific cloud/orbital
Since there are different parts of the orbital shape in more complex shaped paths, such as the cloverleaf, this number is used to describe the exact orbital it is in. This number ranges from -ℓ to +ℓ .
4. Spin projection number (ms): Spin of an electron
Within each section of the orbital (or mℓ ), there can be no more than two electrons. Research suggests that they must spin in opposite directions. There are two possibilites for spin numbers: counterclockwise (-1/2) and clockwise (+1/2).