Maximum number of electrons in n=5, l=4

Question

 

What is the maximum number of electrons? 

n = 5, l = 4

 

Please explain 

 

Answer 1

Hello Annie

 

n is referred to as the principal quantum number and l is the azimuthal quantum number.

 

The smallest value n can have is 1.  The possible values of l range from 0, 1, 2....(n-1).  Since n = 5 in your question, the values of l are 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

 

The value of l tells us the type of orbital that is present.  For instance, if

 

l = 0, s orbital

l = 1, p orbital

l = 2, d orbital

l = 3, f orbital

l = 4, g orbital

 

From the value of l, you can get the values of the magnetic quantum number, m_l. , which tells us how many subshells are present in that orbital.

 

s orbital = 1 subshell (m_l = 0)

p orbital = 3 subshells (m_l = -1, 0, +1)

d orbital = 5 subshells (m_l = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2)

f orbital = 7 subshells (m_l = -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3)

g orbital = 9 subshells (m_l = -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4)

 

Since l = 4, we are looking at the g orbital, which contains 9 subshells.  Each subshell can hold 2 electrons, therefore, 9 subshells can hold a maximum of 18 electrons.