Atomic Electron Quantum Numbers Overview
[caption id="attachment_6527" align="alignright" width="440"] 3d(yz) Orbital[/caption] Physicists and physical chemists speak of the four quantum numbers for each one of an atom's electrons: n, l, m, and s. Each of these variables incorporates specific characteristics of any electron orbital. The four quantum numbers are as follows: n: principal quantum number l: angular quantum number m: magnetic quantum number s: spin quantum number The Quantum Numbers: Here's "n" There is good reason to list the numbers in this order. The principal number n tells us an orbital's size. An increase in n moves an electron farther from the nucleus. This move takes energy, just as it takes energy to lift a person under the influence of gravity. Therefore n can be taken to be the energy quantum number. Here's "l" The…