Final answer:
The magnetic quantum number, m₁, specifies the relative spatial orientation of a particular orbital. It can have values from -1 to 1 and determines the number of possible orbitals in a subshell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The magnetic quantum number, m₁, specifies the relative spatial orientation of a particular orbital. Generally speaking, m₁ can be equal to -1, −(1 − 1), ..., 0, ..., (1 – 1), 1. The total number of possible orbitals with the same value of l (that is, in the same subshell) is 21 + 1. Thus, there is one s-orbital in an s subshell (l = 0), there are three p-orbitals in a p subshell (l = 1), five d-orbitals in a d subshell (l = 2), seven f-orbitals in an fsubshell (l = 3), and so forth. The principal quantum number defines the general value of the electronic energy. The angular momentum quantum number determines the shape of the orbital.