Question

what is the significance of the quantum number m when specifying energy eigenfunction or orbital of atoms?group of answer choicesit indicates the orientation of the orbital.it denotes the size of an eigenfunction or orbital.it represents the shape of the orbital.it represents the magnitude of the angular momentum of the orbital.

Answer 1

The magnetic quantum number, m, is crucial for specifying the orientation of an atomic orbital around the nucleus, corresponding to the different spatial orientations an orbital can have in three-dimensional space.

Therefore, the correct answer is: option "it indicates the orientation of the orbital".

Step-by-step explanation:

A magnetic quantum number is quantum number used to distinguish quantum states of an electron or other particle according to its angular momentum along a given axis in space. The orbital magnetic quantum number distinguishes the orbitals available within a given subshell of an atom.

It specifies the z-component of the angular momentum for a given orbital and is associated with the angular momentum quantum number l.

For a specific l, m can have values between -l and +l, including zero. Each of these values corresponds to a specific orientation of the orbital in three-dimensional space.

For example, if l = 1, which defines a p-orbital, then m can be -1, 0, or +1, indicating the three possible orientations of the p-orbital.