How Do You Calculate Total Angular Momentum for Electron Configurations?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the total angular momentum quantum number for a given electron configuration, specifically 1s² 2s² 2p² 3p¹. Participants are exploring the contributions of both orbital angular momentum and spin angular momentum from the electrons in various shells.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Exploratory

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the total angular momentum by considering the contributions from each electron shell and summing the angular momentum and spin values. Some participants question the assumptions made regarding the contributions of spin and orbital angular momentum, particularly in the context of Hund's rule.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants expressing confusion about the concepts involved. Some guidance has been suggested, such as referencing Hund's rule, but there is no clear consensus on the correctness of the original poster's calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants have noted confusion regarding the principles of angular momentum in quantum mechanics, and there may be assumptions about the treatment of electron spins and their contributions that are under scrutiny.

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lets say there is an electron configuraiton of [tex]1s^2 2s^2 2p^2 3p^1[/tex]

I want to find the total angular momentum quantum number, J=L+S

considering the n=1 state, there are two electrons, in the s shell which means one is spin 1/2 and the other is spin -1/2 giving a total spin of 0. The s shell has no angular momentum so L=0.

considering n=2 state, there are two electrons in the s shell which again gives us 0 total angular momentum. If we went to the p shell, there are 2 electrons in the p shell, each having L=1, so we add them together to get L=2. The two electrons do not contribute spin since their net sum is zero, S=1/2-1/2=0.

considering the n=3 state, there is 1 electron in the p shell, which means S=1/2 and L=1

J is the sum of L and S, so the total angular momentum should be J=L+S=2+1+1/2=7/2

Is this correct?
 
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anyone?
 
help?
 
this part of physics is very confused
 
vega_1992 said:
this part of physics is very confused

and confused physics confuses me
 
only when all the directions of the angular moments be same,can we plus them directly
 
Use Hunds rule.
 

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