What do the Ms in ml and ms quantum numbers stand for?

Thread starter Stickybees
Start date Sep 12, 2013
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Numbers Quantum Quantum numbers

In summary, the "m" in the ml and ms quantum numbers stands for magnetic and represents the orientation of an electron's spin and angular momentum in a magnetic field. These numbers are related as they describe different aspects of an electron's spin. The possible values for ml and ms are determined by the quantum numbers l and s, and they do not directly affect an electron's energy level but are used to determine its energy levels and sublevels in an atom. The ml and ms quantum numbers also impact an electron's behavior in an atom by determining its spatial distribution and ultimately affecting its chemical properties and bonding behavior.

Sep 12, 2013

Stickybees

I first thought magnetic, but that only makes sense for ml, they're both projections though, does anyone know what they stand for?

Thanks!

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Sep 12, 2013

dauto

m stands for magnetic
s stands for spin
l stands for ?

Keep in mind that these are just labels of at most historical significance.

Sep 12, 2013

Stickybees

I think it must just be 'momentum' from searching a bit more.

1. What is the significance of the "m" in the ml and ms quantum numbers?

The "m" in the ml and ms quantum numbers stands for magnetic. These numbers represent the orientation of an electron's spin and its angular momentum in a magnetic field.

2. How are the ml and ms quantum numbers related?

The ml and ms quantum numbers are related because they both describe different aspects of an electron's spin. The ml number describes the orientation of the electron's orbital angular momentum, while the ms number describes the orientation of its spin angular momentum.

3. What are the possible values for the ml and ms quantum numbers?

The ml quantum number can have integer values ranging from -l to l, where l is the orbital angular momentum quantum number. The ms quantum number can have only two values, +1/2 and -1/2, representing the two possible spin orientations of an electron.

4. How do the ml and ms quantum numbers affect an electron's energy level?

The ml and ms quantum numbers do not directly affect an electron's energy level. However, they are used to determine the energy levels and sublevels that an electron can occupy in an atom.

5. How do the ml and ms quantum numbers impact an electron's behavior in an atom?

The ml and ms quantum numbers play a crucial role in determining the behavior of electrons in an atom. These numbers help in determining the spatial distribution of the electron's wave function, which affects its chemical properties and bonding behavior.