Question

Quantum number l is known as the ___ and indicates the ___ of the electron cloud?

a) Angular momentum quantum number; shape of the orbital.
b) Spin quantum number; speed of the electron.
c) Magnetic quantum number; energy level of the electron.
d) Principal quantum number; direction of the electron's spin.

Answer 1

The angular momentum quantum number (l) is associated with the shape of an electron's orbital in an atom, with possible values from 0 to n - 1 for a given principal quantum number n.

Step-by-step explanation:

The angular momentum quantum number, represented by l, is crucial for understanding the shapes of the electron clouds, or orbitals, around an atom. According to quantum mechanics, this quantum number describes the shape of the orbital that the electron occupies.

For a given principal quantum number n, which determines the size and energy level of the orbital, the angular momentum quantum number can have values ranging from 0 to n - 1. For example, when n = 2, then l can be either 0 (which corresponds to an s orbital) or 1 (which corresponds to a p orbital), with each shape having distinctive spatial orientations.

Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is a) Angular momentum quantum number; shape of the orbital.