Question

Which of the following statements about quantum numbers is wrong?
A. If the value of \[\ell \]=0, the electron distribution is spherical
B. The shape of the orbital is given by azimuthal quantum number
C. The Zeeman’s effect is explained by magnetic quantum number
D. The spin quantum number gives the orientation of electron cloud

Answer 1

Hint: Quantum numbers are the collection of numbers namely principal, azimuthal, magnetic, and spin quantum numbers. These numbers decide an electron's energy, position, orbital type, and direction.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Let's discuss all the options one by one.
The symbol \[\ell \]is the symbol for the azimuthal quantum number. The value of \[\ell \] decides an electron's subshell. The \[\ell \]=0 indicates that the electron is present in the s-subshell. We know that the subshell's shape is spherical in nature. Therefore, electron distribution is spherical. So, option A is right.

An orbital's shape is indicated by the azimuthal quantum number as it gives the idea of the subshell of the electron. So, option B is also right.

Zeeman effect says that when a light is placed in a magnetic field whose nature is strong, there will be a splitting of a spectral line into two or more components having a slightly different frequency. The magnetic quantum number says about the energy of the subshell and orbital angular momentum. So, the magnetic number decides the shift of the orbital in the presence of a magnetic field. Therefore, option C is right.

The spin quantum number explains the spin of a particular electron in an orbital but it does not give the orientation of the electron cloud.
Therefore, option D is wrong.

Note: The principal quantum number is represented by the symbol of n. This value tells us the principal energy shell of an electron. It is to be noted that, in an atom, no two electrons possess the same values as quantum numbers.