The Principal Quantum Number

The principal quantum number n describes the average distance of the orbital from the nucleus — and the energy of the electron in an atom. It can have only positive integer (whole-number) values 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. The larger the value of n, the higher the energy and the larger the orbital, or electron shell. 

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It is interesting to note that this is the first time that in the present framework the quantization is formed by two quantum numbers a number n to be termed the principal quantum number and a number , to be termed the secondary quantum number. This case is reminiscent of the two quantum numbers that characterize the hydrogen atom. 

Orbitals are described by specifying their size shape and directional properties Spherically symmetrical ones such as shown m Figure 1 1 are called y orbitals The let ter s IS preceded by the principal quantum number n n = 2 3 etc ) which speci ties the shell and is related to the energy of the orbital An electron m a Is orbital is likely to be found closer to the nucleus is lower m energy and is more strongly held than an electron m a 2s orbital... 

The period (or row) of the periodic table m which an element appears corresponds to the principal quantum number of the highest numbered occupied orbital (n = 1 m the case of hydrogen and helium) Hydrogen and helium are first row elements lithium in = 2) IS a second row element... 

Consider now the solutions of the spherical potential well with a barrier at the center. Figure 14 shows how the energies of the subshells vary as a function of the ratio between the radius of the C o barrier Rc and the outer radius of the metal layer R ui- The subshells are labeled with n and /, where n is the principal quantum number used in nuclear physics denoting the number of extrema in the radial wave function, and / is the angular momentum quantum number. 

The arrangement of electrons in an atom is described by means of four quantum numbers which determine the spatial distribution, energy, and other properties, see Appendix 1 (p. 1285). The principal quantum number n defines the general energy level or shell to which the electron belongs. Electrons with n = 1.2, 3, 4., are sometimes referred to as K, L, M, N,. .., electrons. The orbital quantum number / defines both the shape of the electron charge distribution and its orbital angular... 

The bound states (where < 0) are characterized by the three quantum numbers n (the principal quantum number), I (the azimuthal quantum number) and mi (the magnetic quantum number). 

Although it is not shown in Figure 6.7, p orbitals, like s orbitals, increase in size as the principal quantum number n increases. Also not shown are the shapes and sizes of d and f orbitals. We will say more about the nature of d orbitals in Chapter 15. 

Energy level of atom Energy corresponding to the principal quantum number, n, 140... 

Make a table listing the principal quantum numbers (through three), the types of orbitals, and the number of orbitals of each type. 

The energy levels of a hydrogen atom are defined by the principal quantum number, n = 1,2, and form a converging series, as shown in Fig. 1.28. 

Within each series, the principal quantum number for... 

In the following discussion we shall use to denote the principal quantum number of the ith shell, i.e., instead of n. We shall introduce for convenience the numerical factor yi such that... 

Here n is the principal quantum number, and m and ns are given by the equations... 

The Relation between the Shell Model and Layers of Spherons.—In the customary nomenclature for nucleon orbitals the principal quantum number n is taken to be nr + 1, where nr> the radial quantum number, is the number of nodes in the radial wave function. (For electrons n is taken to be nT + l + 1.) The nucleon distribution function for n = 1 corresponds to a single shell (for Is a ball) about the origin. For n = 2 the wave function has a small negative value inside the nodal surface, that is, in the region where the wave function for n = 1 and the same value of l is large, and a large value in the region just beyond this surface. 

The structural interpretation of the principal quantum number of nucleonic orbital wave functions and the structural basis provided by the close-packed-spheron theory for the neutron and proton magic numbers are discussed in notes submitted to Phys. Rev. Letters and Nature (L. Pauling, 1965). 

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