How many possible substates are available in a hydrogen atom where the principal quantum number is 3?
A)6
B)9
C)18
D)36

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principal quantum number (n) determines the energy level of an electron in an atom. For n = 3, there are three possible sublevels: l = 0, 1, and 2. Each sublevel has 2l + 1 possible magnetic quantum numbers (ml), which gives a total of 6 possible substates for l = 0, 6 possible substates for l = 1, and 6 possible substates for l = 2. Therefore, the total number of possible substates for n = 3 is 6 + 6 + 6 = 18.

How Many Possible Substates Are Available in a Hydrogen Atom