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GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1
Quarter 2 - Module 1
Quantum Numbers

Name of Learner: ___________________________

Grade & Section: ___________________________
Name of School: ___________________________
Module
Quantum Numbers
1
What I Need to Know
In your grade 9, you have learned all about electrons and its behavior.
You were able to learn on the quantum mechanical model which
describes the atom as having a nucleus at the center around in which
the electrons move. Also, you were able to write electronic
configuration. With those background, it is now easy for you to
understand this next topic.
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Use quantum numbers to describe an electron in an atom.
(STEM_GC11ESIIa-b-54);
2. Determine the magnetic property of the atom based on its electronic
configuration. (STEM_GC11ESIIa-b-57)
3. Draw an orbital diagram to represent the electronic configuration of
atoms. (STEM_GC11ESIIa-b-58)

What’s In Score: /3
Activity 1. Remember Me?
Directions: Matching type. Let’s see how far you can still remember the
lesson learned in your Grade 9. For each item in Column B (the definition of
certain principles), write the letter of the matching item in Column A
(principles/concept of Quantum mechanical theory).
Column A Column B
____1. Heisenberg A. The modern model of an atom which treats electrons as
Uncertainty Principle waves
____2. Scrodinger wave B. States that it is impossible to know both the velocity and
the position of the particle at the same time
equation
C. a three- dimensional region around the nucleus
____3. Quantum representing the probability of finding an electron
mechanical model D. way in which electrons are distributed in the different
orbitals around the nucleus of an atom.
Activity 1 helps you recall the development of atomic model. Also, It
was said that it is not possible to measure the exact position and the exact
momentum of a particle at the same time through the Uncertainty Principle
and it was the Scrodinger Equation that provided the idea of the electron’s
position.
 Now, let’s move on to the next activity!

What’s New Score: / 5

Activity 2. What Quantum Number am I?

Directions: Read the text below and Identify the following statement
as n for Principal quantum number, l for Angular Momentum quantum
number, ml for magnetic quantum number or ms for Electron Spin
quantum number.
The four quantum numbers are the principal quantum number (n), the
angular momentum quantum number (ℓ) , the magnetic quantum number (ml)
and the spin quantum number (ms). The first three quantum numbers
describe the energy, shape and orientation of orbitals while the spin quantum
number refers to two different spin orientations of electrons in a specified
orbital. These are "spin-up" or "spin-down" and is assigned the number +½
and -½, respectively.
____1. Describes the orientation of the orbital in space
____2. It is usually designated by letters s, p, d, f, … which have a historical
origin from spectral lines.
____3. Is related to the average distance of the electron from the nucleus in a
particular orbital; the larger the n value, the farther the average distance of
the electron from the nucleus
____4. It refers to two different spin orientations of electrons in a specified
orbital.
____5. Determines the orbital size
Score: / 5
Activity 3. Know the QN better
Directions: Study the table below then answer the questions that follow by
ticking the box of the correct answer.

Table 1. Relationship among n, l and ml through n=4

Principal Angular Subshell Magnetic Number Atomic Orbital
Quantum Momentum designation quantum of Designation
Number, quantum number, orbitals
n number, l ml
1 0 1s 0 1 1s
0 2s 0 1 2s
2 1 2p -1,0,1 3 2px, 2py, 2pz
0 3s 0 1 3s
3 1 3p -1,0,1 3 3px, 3py, 3pz
2 3d -2,- 5 3dxy, 3dyz, 3dxz
1,0,1,2 , 3dx2.y2, 3dz2
0 4s 0 1 4s
1 4p -1,0,1 3 4px, 4py, 4pz
4 2 4d -2,- 5 4dxy, 4dyz, 4dxz
1,0,1,2 , 4dx2.y2, 4dz2
3 4f -3,-2,- 7
1,0,1,2,3
(source: General chemistry TG & Chemistry the Central Science. Brown, et.al., 2015)
Guide Questions:
1. What are the n and l values of 3p orbitals?
n= 3, l=0 n= 3, l =1
2. What is the ml of the no. 1 orbital?
ml= 0 ml= -1,0,1
3. What is the maximum number of orbitals of n=4, l=1?
1 3
4. Which orbitals cannot exist?
a. 2d 4p
5. What is the maximum electron pairs that can occupy the subshell of d
orbitals?
5 electron pairs 7 electron pair
Since you know already how to use quantum numbers to describe an
electron, I guess you are ready to move to the next activity. Come On!

Score: / 6
Activity 4. Representations of Orbitals
Directions: Read the following concept notes and take note of the
important points. The learning you get from here will give you the answer to
the follow up questions. (2 pts. each)
Wave function provides information about an electron’s probable location in
space. Let’s examine the ways in which we can picture orbitals, because their
shapes help us visualize how the electron density is distributed around the
nucleus.

a b c

Figure 1. Shape of orbitals a.) s orbital, b) p orbital, c) d orbital

The figures above are simply a representative of the shapes of orbitals.

Figure 1a shows the cross-section of 2s. It has a sphere shape. In Figure 1b,
this is the shape of p orbital, specifically the px. For the p orbitals, it has a
double teardrop shape, or in some books, dumbbell shape. And figure 1c
shows the d orbital.

Shape it!
Directions: With the knowledge on representation of orbitals above, then
answer the following questions by shading the circle of the correct answer.
1. What is the shape of the orbital with the quantum numbers n=3, l=0 and
mℓ = 0?

2. What is the shape of the subshell with the quantum numbers n=4, l=2 is

3. What is the orientation of the allowed values of l= 1 for the shell n=2.

In activity 2, 3 and 4, you were introduced to the concept of quantum

numbers; its shape, orientation, energy level and spin property which enabled
you to describe an electron.

Score: / 20
Activity 5. Electronic Configuration and Orbitals
Directions: Write the electron configuration of the elements in the third
period; determine the pattern of filling the orbitals based on the given
distribution for the 5 elements. Write your answers on the space provided
inside the table.
Procedures:
1. Write the electronic configurations for the first 4 elements in the third
period of the periodic table. The electronic configuration for Na is already
done for your guidance.
(Note: 11Na means element Sodium with an atomic number of 11.)
Atomic number is the number of proton = the number of electron for an
atom.
Symbol O R B I T A L Electronic
Configuration
1s 2s 2px 2py 2pz 3s 3px 3py 3pz
11Na 1s2 2s2 2px2 2py2 2pz2
3s1
1. 12Mg
2. 13Al
3. 14Si
4. 15P
5. 16S
 What is it
Quantum Numbers
The quantum numbers are used to determine the electron
configuration of an atom and the probable location of the atom's electrons.
These numbers also used to understand other characteristics of atoms, such
as ionization energy and the atomic radius.

The first quantum number, the principal quantum number, n, can have
positive integral values 1, 2, 3, . . .. As n increases, the orbital becomes larger,
and the electron spends more time farther from the nucleus. An increase in n
also means that the electron has a higher energy and is therefore less tightly
bound to the nucleus. The angular momentum quantum number, l— can have
integral values from 0 to 1n - 12 for each value of n. This quantum number
defines the shape of the orbital. The value of l for a particular orbital is
generally designated by the letters s, p, d, and f,** corresponding to l values
of 0, 1, 2, and 3:
Table 2. Values of l and the corresponding letters
Value of l 0 1 2 3
Letter used s p d f
(Source: Chemistry the Central Science. Brown, et.al., 2015)
Strictly speaking, an orbital does not have a definite shape because the
wave function extends to infinity. However, while the electron can be found
anywhere, there are regions where the probability of finding it is much higher.
Figure 2 shows the electron density distribution of a 1s electron around the
nucleus. Note that it does not have a well-defined boundary; the more dots,
the darker the shade, the higher the probability of finding the electron in that
region. Also note that the probability distribution is spherical. We can draw a
boundary surface that will enclose 90% of the total electron density in the
orbital as shown in Figure 2a. This will result in a boundary surface diagram
of the 1s orbital as shown in Figure 2b.

(a) (b)
Figure 2. (a) Electron- density distribution; (b) boundary surface diagram of s
orbitals

Figure 2b shows that all the s orbitals are spherical in shape but differ
in size, which increases as the value of n increases. The p orbitals starts when
n =2 for which ℓ has a value of 1 and mℓ has values -1, 0, +1. Therefore, there
are three 2p orbitals: 2px, 2py, 2pz indicating the axes along which they are
oriented. For the p orbitals, the electron probability density is not spherically
symmetric but has a double teardrop shape, or in some books, a dumbbell
shape. The greatest probability of finding the electron is within the two lobes
of the dumbbell region; it has zero probability along the nodal planes found in
the axes. All three 2p orbitals are identical in shape and energy but differ in
orientation as shown in Figure 3. The p orbitals of higher principal quantum
numbers have similar shapes.

Figure 4 shows the d orbitals occur for the first time when n = 3. The
angular function in these cases possesses two angular (or planar) nodes. Four
Figure 3. Different orientation of p orbitals
of the orbitals have the same basic shapes except for the orientation with
respect to the axes. The wave functions exhibit positive and negative lobes
along the axes and shows zero probability of finding the electron at the origin.
The fifth wave function, dx2 , has a similar shape with that of the p-orbital with
a donut-shape region along the x-axis.

Figure 4. D orbitals

The third quantum number is magnetic quantum number, ml. Its

integral values between -l and l, including zero. It describes the orientation of
the orbital in space. Lastly, Electron spin quantum number is a quantum
number which describes the spin of an electron. It is said that an electron has
a spin property that would give rise to magnetic moment. The electrons are
paired such that one spins upward and one downward, neutralizing the effect
of their spin on the action of the atom as a whole. But in the valence shell of
atoms where there is a single electron whose spin remains unbalanced, the
unbalanced spin creates spin magnetic moment, making the electron act like
a very small magnet. As the atoms pass through the in-homogeneous
magnetic field, the force moment in the magnetic field influences the electron's
dipole until its position matches the direction of the stronger field.

Magnetic Property of an Atom

The four quantum numbers are very useful in labelling an electron in
any orbital in an atom. In the case of hydrogen, there is only one electron. In
the ground state, the one electron of hydrogen will occupy the 1s orbital, the
one with the lowest energy. This electron is represented by the set of quantum
numbers: n = 1, ℓ =0, ml = 0, and ms = ½ or -½. By convention, the set of
quantum numbers is written as (1, 0, 0, ½) or (1, 0, 0, -½). The ms value is
important in describing the arrangement of electrons in the atom.
 It is possible to represent this arrangement of the electron in hydrogen
in terms of the electron configuration or in terms of the orbital diagram. The
electron configuration shows how the electrons of an atom are distributed
among the atomic orbitals. The orbital diagram shows the spin of the electron.
For the electron in the ground state of hydrogen, the electron configuration is
given as

number of electrons in the

orbital or subshell
1s1
principal quantum
number angular momentum quantum number

Figure 5. Representation of an electronic configuration

The fourth quantum number introduced that an electron has a spin

property that would give rise to magnetic moment.

Rules in Writing the Electronic Configuration:

Pauli Exclusion Principle
In filling up the orbitals, the lower energy levels are filled up first before
the higher energy levels. This principle states that in an atom or molecule, no
two electrons can have the same four electronic quantum numbers.
Consequently, an orbital can contain a maximum of only two electrons, the
two electrons must have opposing spins. This means if one is assigned an up-
spin (+1/2), the other must be down-spin (-1/2).

Consider the case of He with 2 electrons (see Table 3).

Table 3. Three cases in writing the orbital diagram
Case A Case B Case C

Violates Pauli’s Violates Pauli’s

Acceptable
Exclusion Principle Exclusion Principle
Hund’s Rule
For carbon, the electronic configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p2. But the orbital diagram
shows three ways in which the last electron can be placed in the orbitals which
do not violate the Pauli’s exclusion principle as shown in the following:
First option:

1s 2s 2p
Second option:
 1s 2s 2p
Third option:

1s 2s 2p
However, each arrangement provides a different energy value. The
one with the lowest energy has the greatest stability. Hund’s rule is the guide
in determining the most stable distribution. Hund’s rule: The most stable
arrangement of electrons in the subshells is the one with the most number of
parallel spins.
Based on this rule, the third option is the most favorable
arrangement for the electron to attain the greatest stability. In the first option,
the presence of two electrons with opposing spins in one orbital results in a
greater mutual repulsion than when they occupy separate orbitals. Hund’s
Rule is followed in d and f orbitals as well.
Pauli’s Exclusion Principle can be tested by simple observation.
Measurements of magnetic properties provide the most direct evidence for
specific electronic configurations of elements. Paramagnetic materials are
those that contain unpaired electrons or spins and are attracted by a magnet.
Diamagnetic materials are those with paired spins and are repelled by a
magnet. Any atom with an odd number of electrons will contain one or more
unpaired spins, and are therefore attracted by a magnet, thus, can be
classified as paramagnetic. For an even number of electrons like helium, if the
two electrons in the 1s orbitals had parallel spins, their net magnetic fields
should strengthen each other. But experimental results showed that the
helium atom in its ground state has no net magnetic field.
This observation supports the pairing of two electrons with opposite
spins in the 1s orbital. Thus, helium gas is diamagnetic. Lithium, on the other
hand, has an unpaired electron and is paramagnetic. The orbital diagram
provides information on the diamagnetic or paramagnetic characteristic of an
element.
Aufbau Principle
The Aufbau principle dictates that as protons are added one by one
to the nucleus to build up the elements, electrons are similarly added to the
atomic orbitals. The order of filling up the atomic orbitals is from lowest energy
to highest energy. Within the same principal quantum number, the order of
energies of the atomic orbitals is s<p<d<f .
For multi-electron atoms, the general order of filling up orbitals can
be diagrammed as follows:

(source: https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33601)
 Now that you are equipped with the rules in writing the electronic
configuration, Do the next activity to harness your knowledge from the
discussion.

Score: / 20
What’s More
Activity 6. Let’s Try this!
Directions: Using the knowledge you have in the previous discussion,
Fill in the following table:

Question: Which of the 5 elements has the highest magnetic properties (most
paramagnetic)?___________________________________________________________

Based on Activity 5 & 6, you recall to write the electron configuration

of an element and you were able to determine the magnetic property of an
atom and also draw the orbital diagram using the electronic configuration. Do
the next activity to add more to your bank of knowledge about quantum
numbers, determining the magnetic property and orbital diagrams.

What I Have Learned Score: / 50

Activity 7. A mash up
Part A. Directions: Look at the element on the periodic table. Write the
electron configuration, its orbital diagram (of the last electron only found in
the highest energy level), and its quantum numbers (based only from the
highest energy level electron) and determine its magnetic property.
Electronic Orbital
Element configuration Diagram of n l ml ms Magnetic
the last Property
electron
Example: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3p4 3 1 -1 -½ Paramagnetic
S 3s2 3p4
1. Sc
2. K
3. I
4. Na
5. Sr
Part B. Directions: Based from you answer in part A, Describe the electron
in an atom using the quantum numbers. (3 pts. each)
Example: For S element- The valence electrons in the S element is at the
3 energy level, in p orbital. Its last electron is found to have px orientation
rd

and its spin is downward.

1. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

What I Can Do Score: / 25

Activity 8. Element hunting!
Directions: List down at least 5 things that you see around your
household. Check the composition through an internet and take note of
the highest percentage that make up that certain material. Then you give
its electronic configuration, orbital diagram and magnetic property. Use
the Table below as your guide to do this.

Element Application Electronic Orbital diagram Paramagnetic

Configuration or
Diamagnetic
Example: Component 1s2 2s2 2p6
Aluminum of a basin 3s2 3p1 Paramagnetic
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Assessment Score: / 15

Directions. Read and understand each question and select the letter
of the best answer from among the given choices then write it in the blank
provided.
___1. Which of the four quantum numbers determine the energy of an
electron in a hydrogen atom and in a many electron atom?
A. Principal quantum number
B. Angular Momentum quantum number
C. Magnetic quantum number
D. Electron Spin quantum number
___2. What is the total number of electrons that can occupy five d orbitals?
A. 2 C. 10
B. 9 D. 14
___3. Which of the four quantum numbers determine the orientation of an
orbital in space?
A. Principal quantum number
B. Angular Momentum quantum number
C. Magnetic quantum number
D. Electron Spin quantum number
___4. Which of the following are the set of values of n, l, and ml for the
orbital in the 4d sub shell.
A. n=4, l= 0, ml= 0
B. n=4, l= 1, ml=-1,0,1
C. n=4, l= 2, ml= -2,-1,0,1,2
D. n=4, l= 3, ml= -3,-2,-1,0,1,2, 3
___5. What type of electrons is considered when talking of paramagnetic
materials?
A. Paired C. Equal
B. Unpaired D. None of the Above
___6. Which of the following is not a set of quantum numbers for an electron
in a 3p orbital?
A. 3,1,-1, ½ C. 3,1,1, ½
B. 3,1,0, ½ D. 3,1,1, -1
___7. What is the total number of orbitals associated with the principal
quantum number n=3?
A. 1 B. 4 C. 9 D. 20
___8. Which quantum number(s) do 2s and 2p have in common?
A. n and l C. n
B. l D. l and ml
___9. The atomic number of an element is 73. The element therefore is
diamagnetic. Which of the following statement is correct?
A. The statement above is true, because its atomic number is 73
B. The statement above is false, since atomic number is 73
C. The statement above is true, because it is odd number.
D. Both A and C
___10. Which among the orbital diagrams below belong for atoms with the
electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p5?

A.
1s 2s 2p
B.
1s 2s 2p
C.
1s 2s 2p

D.
1s 2s 2p
___11. Refer to no. 10, What is the magnetic property of that atom?
A. Paramagnetic C. Semi- magnetic
B. Diamagnetic D. None of the Above
___12. What will be the possible orbitals for the principal quantum number
n=4?
A. s, p, d and f orbitals C. only s and p orbital
B. only an s orbital D. only s, p and d orbitals
___13. Shown below are portions of orbital of diagrams representing the
ground-state electron configurations of certain element. Which of them
violate the Pauli Exclusion Principle?

A. A and B only C. A, B, C, D and F only

B. A, B, C and D only D. All of the Above
___14. Which of the following principles that states “No two electrons in an
atom can have the same set of n, l, ml and ms quantum numbers”?
A. Bohr’s Theory C. Hund’s rule
B. Pauli Exclusion D. Aufbau Principle
Principle
___15. Which among the following has the highest energy?
A. 3d C. 4d
B. 4s D. 5s

You’re almost there. Thank you for doing your best. I hope you
enjoyed your tour around this module. To end this up, Do the last activity.

Additional Activity
Activity 9. Wrap it up
Directions: Your task is to make a video report that explains all
about your learnings in the topic Quantum Number. From the
beginning until the last topic. The video is 3 mins. max. Just follow the rubrics
below. Your output should be sent to this email _________________.
Criteria Developing Standard Exemplary Total
Pts.
Content 6 8 10 /10
Lacks depth Only some topics In- depth and
limited treatment are thoroughly thorough
of assigned topics. discussed and discussion of
Demonstrates given an in-depth assigned topics.
limited evidence of treatment. Shows Shows strong
research moderate evidence evidence of
of research research
Organization Shows minimum Show adequate Very well planned, /10
and Clarity planning; some planning, some logical
of Report sections are portions needs presentation and
disorganized and clarification and well understood by
confusing improvement in the audience.
logical presentation
Presentation Makes use of Makes use of some Visual Aids /10
Aids Visual Aids Visual Aids materials are well
materials but does materials and done and are used
not enhance the enhances the to make the
presentation presentation to a presentation more
limited extent interesting and
meaningful
Time Takes up more Hurriedly finishes Finishes within /10
management than 5 minutes before 5 minutes the prescribed
time with
appropriate pacing

Speaking Monotone; speaker Clear articulation Exceptional /10

Skills seem uninterested of ideas, but confidence with
in material apparently lacks material displayed
confidence with through poise,
material clear articulation,
eye contact, and
enthusiasm