Final answer:
The angular momentum quantum number (l) determines the orbital shape of an electron in an atom and has allowed integer values ranging from 0 to n - 1, where n is the principal quantum number.
Step-by-step explanation:
Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l)
The angular momentum quantum number, denoted by l, is a quantum number that defines the shape of the orbital an electron occupies within an atom. The allowed values for l are determined by the principal quantum number n. Specifically, the value of l can be any integer from 0 up to n - 1. Thus, for a given n, the possible values of l are 0, 1, 2, ..., n - 1.
For example, if the principal quantum number n = 4, the allowed values for the angular momentum quantum number would be l = 0, 1, 2, or 3. This number determines the orbital shape and has implications for the energy levels and spatial distribution of electrons in an atom, impacting their chemical properties.
The angular momentum quantum number is essential in understanding the electronic structure of atoms and is intricately linked to the orbital configurations and chemical behavior of elements.