Final answer:
Each quantum number characterizes a different aspect of an electron's position within an atom: the principal quantum number (n) determines energy level and distance from the nucleus, the angular momentum quantum number (l) defines the orbital shape, the magnetic quantum number (ml) indicates orbital orientation, and the spin quantum number (ms) specifies electron spin orientation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The features of an orbital/electron described by each quantum number are as follows:
- The principal quantum number (n) specifies the general energy level of the orbital and the relative distance of the electron from the nucleus. Higher values of n indicate a higher energy level and a greater average distance from the nucleus.
- The angular momentum quantum number (l) defines the shape of the orbital. It can take on any integer value from 0 to n - 1, with each number corresponding to a specific type of orbital, such as s (l=0), p (l=1), d (l=2), and f (l=3).
- The magnetic quantum number (ml) indicates the orientation of the orbital in space. It can range from -l to +l, including zero.
- The spin quantum number (ms) designates the spin orientation of the electron, which can be either +1/2 (spin up) or -1/2 (spin down).
These quantum numbers collectively describe the position and energy of electrons within an atom and enable us to determine an electron configuration, which is like a map showing where electrons are most likely to be found within an atom.