Amy W.

asked • 09/05/17

Quantum numbers

How many electrons in a tellurium atom have quantum number l=1? Explain

2 Answers By Expert Tutors

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Arturo O. answered • 09/05/17

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J.R. S.

tutor
Arturo,
The lower case L (l) is used to designate the angular momentum quantum number and this can have a value of 0 to n-1. Not sure what you refer to as the ORBITAL quantum number with upper case L. My guess is that is is the same thing since you came up with the same answer as I. j I've just not heard it referred to by this name.
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09/06/17

Arturo O.

J.R. S.,
 
In physics textbooks it is refereed to as the orbital quantum number, to distinguish it from the magnetic quantum number associated with the z-component of the orbital angular momentum.  I used upper case L because the lower case l looks too much like the number 1.  The L in my explanation is the same as the l in your explanation, with the L coming from the eigenvalue of the square of the angular momentum operator.  Here I will use upper case L for the operator and lower case l for the quantum number:
 
L2ψ = h_bar2 l(l + 1)Ψ
 
Lzψ= h_barmψ 
 
m = magnetic quantum number
 
h_bar = h/(2π)
 
and of course, Ψ is the wave function.
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09/06/17

Arturo O.

And m can have integer values from -l to l.
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09/06/17

J.R. S.

tutor
Ah...got it.  Crossover of physics and chemistry.  Who knew?  Thanks.
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09/06/17

Arturo O.

I just want to add:
 
I actually like the way they present quantum mechanics (QM) in chemistry books more than in physics books.  Too often, the physics QM books get so deep into the mathematical formulation and get so abstract, that it seems they lose touch with the physical objects being modeled.  In chemistry QM books, I noticed the authors "stay in touch" with atoms, molecules, ions, and other neat things, and they are much more conceptual, which makes it easier to grasp the material.
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09/06/17

J.R. S.

tutor
Agreed.  Thanks for your participation.
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09/06/17

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