How was the spdf orbital designation derived?

[idea2000]

Are there any old threads or insights blog posts that talk about how spdf was derived? Thanks!

 

[jedishrfu]

Here's a quora discussion on it:

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-the-orbitals-shells-called-s-p-d-f-etc-Is-there-a-reason

They were named for the spectral lines that were seen:
- sharp
- principle
- diffuse
- fundamental

More here at:

https://www.thoughtco.com/angular-momentum-quantum-numbers-606461

http://www.che.uc.edu/jensen/w. b. jensen/reprints/137. s, p, d, f.pdf

 

[jedishrfu]

Another reference:

https://chemistry.stackexchange.com...als-spdf-why-they-named-like-that/96351#96351

I found a poster reference where from memory he/she said:

- sharp
- pronounced
- diffuse
- foggy

which seems more to form but it disagrees with the literature.

As an aside, this reminds me of the River Runs Through It author, Norman McLean who described a small creek name "Wet A**" Creek which was later Indianified to Wetase Creek.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/idaho/1348265-selway-bitterroot-2.html

 

[idea2000]

Your posts were very helpful, thanks. Are there any resources that show how they were derived from Schrödinger's? Like, actual math? Thanks!

 

[DrClaude]

Your posts were very helpful, thanks. Are there any resources that show how they were derived from Schrödinger's? Like, actual math? Thanks!

You will fin the derivation in any book dealing with atomic physics, and most textbooks on quantum mechanics.

For online resources, you can look at Hyperphysics: a first part describes the Schrödinger equation for the hydrogen atom, and then, after separation of variables, how the $l$ quantum number comes about.

 

[jedishrfu]

Your posts were very helpful, thanks. Are there any resources that show how they were derived from Schrödinger's? Like, actual math? Thanks!

They aren't derived from math but from spectral line observation of elements and the results were then explained by quantum mechanics. The predictions of the Bohr model were wrong for some elements and other physicists adjusted the model by adding additional quantum numbers to bring it back into alignment with observation. Pauli's exclusion principle was the final one that allowed the new Bohr model to explain the lines.

You can read more here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopy