In the quantum mechanical model of the atom, the behavior of each electron in an atom is characterized by a wave function. Each wave function has a set of parameters called quantum numbers. A quantum number is a variable that describes the energy and position in space where an electron is most likely to be found. The quantum numbers are described in this table.
| Principle quantum number (n) | indicates how far away the electron is from the nucleus |
|---|---|
| Angular quantum number (ℓ) | indicates the shape of the orbital |
| Magnetic quantum number (mℓ) | tells the orientation of the orbital around the nucleus |
| Spin quantum number (ms) | quantifies the angular momentum of the electron |
Question
How do quantum numbers act like an “address” for electrons in an atom?
Quantum numbers give specific information about an electron's location and behavior in an atom. Like an address, the four quantum numbers together uniquely identify any single electron.
