Question

How would you write a full set of quantum numbers for the outermost electron in an Rb atom?

Answer 1

Hint: It is compulsory to know the atomic number of an element to write about the four quantum numbers of the valence electron or outermost electron which is present in the respective element. The atomic number of the Rubidium is 37.

Complete answer:
- In the question it is asked to write a full set of quantum numbers for the outermost electron in an Rb atom.
- The atomic number of rubidium elements is 37.
- Means there are 36 electrons present in the rubidium element.
- To write about the full set of quantum numbers for the outermost electron of rubidium we should write the electronic configuration of the rubidium.
- The electronic configuration of the rubidium is $1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{6}}3{{s}^{2}}3{{p}^{6}}4{{s}^{2}}3{{d}^{10}}4{{s}^{2}}4{{p}^{6}}5{{s}^{1}}$ .
- Now we have to write a full set of quantum numbers for the electron which is present in the 5s orbital of the rubidium element.
- The principal quantum number (n) for the 5s orbital is ‘5’.
- The angular momentum quantum number (l) for s-orbital is ‘0’.
- The magnetic quantum number value (${{m}_{l}}$ ) for s-orbital is ‘0’.
- The spin quantum number (${{m}_{s}}$ ) value for one electron in 5s orbital of the rubidium is either $+\dfrac{1}{2}or-\dfrac{1}{2}$ .
- Therefore the four quantum number values for the outermost electron in the Rubidium element are 5, 0 , 0, $+\dfrac{1}{2}or-\dfrac{1}{2}$ .

Note:
The set of four Quantum numbers gives the information of the electrons very easily. By using the set of four quantum numbers we can find the position of the electron in the orbital and we can know about the shape of the orbital also.