Question

Electron in the n = 4 state with ml = 2, what are the possible values of l?

Answer 1

l= 2, 3

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the principal quantum number, n, we have that the angular momentum number from 0 to n-1, and the magnetic quantum number can have the values from - l to + l.

For n= 4 ( principal quantum number ) , we have that l, angular quantum number, can have the values 0, 1, 2, 3, and for each l value ml, magnetic quantum number, can have the values from - l to + l :

ml ( for l=0 ) : 1 (s orbital)

ml ( for l= 1 ) : -1, 0, +1 ( p orbitals )

ml ( for l= 2 ) : -2,-1,0,+1,+2 ( d orbitals )

ml ( for l= 3 ) : -3,-2,-1,0+,1,+2 (f orbitals )

So we see that the possible values of l for ml = 2 are l= 2 and l=3