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In quantum mechanics, the principal quantum number (symbolized n) is one of four quantum numbers assigned to each electron in an atom to describe that electron's state. Its values are natural numbers (from one) making it a discrete variable. Apart from the principal quantum number, the other quantum numbers for bound electrons are the azimuthal ...
The principal quantum number in hydrogen is related to the atom's total energy. Note that the maximum value of the angular momentum quantum number is limited by the principal quantum number: it can run only up to n − 1 {\displaystyle n-1} , i.e., ℓ = 0 , 1 , … , n − 1 {\displaystyle \ell =0,1,\ldots ,n-1} .
In quantum physics and chemistry, quantum numbers are quantities that characterize the possible states of the system. To fully specify the state of the electron in a hydrogen atom, four quantum numbers are needed. The traditional set of quantum numbers includes the principal, azimuthal, magnetic, and spin quantum numbers. To describe other ...
is the principal quantum number of the lower energy level, and n 2 {\displaystyle n_{2}} is the principal quantum number of the higher energy level for the atomic electron transition . This formula can be directly applied only to hydrogen-like , also called hydrogenic atoms of chemical elements , i.e. atoms with only one electron being affected ...
Z is the atomic number, n′ (often written ) is the principal quantum number of the lower energy level, n (or ) is the principal quantum number of the upper energy level, and; is the Rydberg constant. (1.096 77 × 10 7 m −1 for hydrogen and 1.097 37 × 10 7 m −1 for heavy metals). [5] [6]
The orbits in which the electron may travel are shown as grey circles; their radius increases as n 2, where n is the principal quantum number. The 3 → 2 transition depicted here produces the first line of the Balmer series, and for hydrogen (Z = 1) it results in a photon of wavelength 656 nm (red light).
The quantum numbers corresponding to these operators are , , (always 1/2 for an electron) and respectively. The energy levels in the hydrogen atom depend only on the principal quantum number n . For a given n , all the states corresponding to ℓ = 0 , … , n − 1 {\displaystyle \ell =0,\ldots ,n-1} have the same energy and are degenerate.
The term "azimuthal quantum number" was introduced by Arnold Sommerfeld in 1915 [1]: II:132 as part of an ad hoc description of the energy structure of atomic spectra. Only later with the quantum model of the atom was it understood that this number, ℓ, arises from quantization of orbital angular momentum. Some textbooks [2]: 199 and the ISO ...