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Magnetic Quantum Number(Ml) and subshell

Is there any rule like Ml value = -1 means Px and 0 equals Py??
Or is it interchangeable?


Like for example if I was told to write the Quantum Number of the 9th e- in Fluorine. Will my answer only be (2,1,0,-1/2), or others like (2,1,-1,-1/2) or (2,1,+1,-1/2) is also possible?
@Pigster please can you help, thank you!
Original post by Roha125
Is there any rule like Ml value = -1 means Px and 0 equals Py??
Or is it interchangeable?


Like for example if I was told to write the Quantum Number of the 9th e- in Fluorine. Will my answer only be (2,1,0,-1/2), or others like (2,1,-1,-1/2) or (2,1,+1,-1/2) is also possible?

It's not that simple I'm afraid - you have to look a bit deeper at the mathematics of the Schrodinger equation to really see that.

A px orbital is a mathematical function made from two parts; a radial part and an angular part. The angular part is made up using two ml values. They couldn't really ask you to give the distinct quantum numbers for the ''ninth'' electron, but could ask you for electrons in the 2p subshell instead where your suggestion would be correct :smile:

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