Question

How many electrons are in n = 3, l = 2 ?

Answer 1

Hint: The principal quantum number is going to be denoted with a symbol ‘n’, and azimuthal quantum number is going to be denoted with ‘l’. By using principal quantum number and azimuthal quantum number we can calculate the number of electrons in an atom.

Complete step by step answer:
- In the question it is asked to calculate the number of electrons of an atom having n = 3 and l = 2.
- The principal quantum number ‘n’ will be 1, 2, 3, 4……. and the azimuthal quantum number ‘l’ will be 0, 1, 2, 3, …….(n-1).
- The magnetic quantum number ‘$m_l$’ will be in between –l, 0, +l.
- The spin quantum number ‘$m_s$’ will be +1/2, -1/2.
- Coming to the given question l = 2 means $m_l$ = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2.
- Means the respective orbital where n = 3, l = 2 will be ‘3d’ because 3d orbitals contain five subshells and the principal quantum number is 3.
- We know that 3d orbital can accommodate 10 electrons (each subshell can accommodate two electrons).
- Therefore the number of electrons are in n = 3, l = 2 are 10.

Note: The number of electrons can accommodate in each orbital is going to vary and depends on the number of subshells each shell contains. By using principal quantum number and azimuthal quantum number we can calculate the number of electrons present in that particular atom.