The electron states in an atom which constitute a single subshell all have:
A) only the same value of n
B) only the same value of
C) only the same value of n and the same value of
D) only the same value of and the same value of
E) the same set of all four quantum numbers

Question

The electron states in an atom which constitute a single subshell all have:
A) only the same value of n 
B) only the same value of 
C) only the same value of n and the same value of 
D) only the same value of and the same value of 
E) the same set of all four quantum numbers

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electron states in a subshell have the same value of n (the principal quantum number) and the same value of l (the azimuthal quantum number). This means that they all belong to the same energy level (n) and the same subshell (l). For example, the p subshell (l=1) contains three orbitals (px, py, and pz), and all three orbitals have the same value of n and l. However, they differ in their m_l (the magnetic quantum number), which determines their orientation in space. The spin quantum number (m_s) is the same for all electrons in a subshell, since no two electrons can have the same set of all four quantum numbers. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

The Electron States in an Atom Which Constitute a Single