Question

(i) Write the maximum number of electron in a subshell with l = 3 and n = 4

(ii) Write the maximum number of electron that can be associated with the following set of quantum numbers?

n = 3, l = 1 and m_l = -1

(iii) Write the maximum number of electron that can be accommodated in an atom in which the highest principal quantum number value is 4.

Answer 1

(i) n = 4, l = 3

\(\therefore\) Sub shell is 4f

for l = 3, m_l , −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3

Each orbital has maximum two electrons. 

So, maximum number of electron in 4f sub shell is 14.

(ii) n = 3, l = 1 and m_l = −1

According to this set of quantum numbers, the outermost subshell is 3p_x

\(\therefore\) Electronic configuration is 1s² , 2s²2p⁶ , 3s²3p_x1

Thus, maximum number of electrons is 13.

(iii) n = 4 

Maximum number of electrons 

= 2n² 

= 2(4)² 

= 32