Question

Nitrogen (Z = 7) has three electrons in the 2p level (in addition to two electrons each in the 1s and 2s levels).

(a) Consistent with the Pauli principle, what is the maximum possible value of the total ms of all seven electrons?
(b) List the quantum numbers of the three 2p electrons that result in the largest total ms. (c) If the electrons in the 2p
level occupy states that maximize ms, what would be the maximum possible value for the total ml? (d) What would
be the maximum possible total ml if the three 2p electrons were in states that did not maximize ms?

Answer 1

The maximum number of electrons that can be in each subshell can be determined using the equation "maximum number of electrons that can be in a subshell = 2(2l + 1)".

Step-by-step explanation:

Since n = 3, we know that I can be 0, 1, or 2; thus, there are three possible subshells. In standard notation, they are labeled the 3s, 3p, and 3d subshells. We have already seen that 2 electrons can be in an s state, and 6 in a p state, but let us use the equation "maximum number of electrons that can be in a subshell = 2(27 + 1)" to calculate the maximum number in each: