9/11/2017 Quantum numbers for hydrogen atom

Geometry of Hydrogen Atom Solution

The hydrogen atom solution to the Schrodinger equation produces three quantum numbers
which can be seen to arise naturally from geometrical constraints on the wavefunction.

Separated into equations in terms of the spherical

coordinates
Index

Hydrogen
concepts
the wavefunction takes the form

which gives three equations. The equation for each of

the three variables gives rise to a quantum number and
the quantized energy states of the atom can be specified
in terms of these quantum numbers.

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Quantum Numbers, Hydrogen Atom

In the solution to the Schrodinger equation for the hydrogen atom, three quantum numbers arise from the
space geometry of the solution and a fourth arises from electron spin. No two electrons can have an
identical set of quantum numbers according to the Pauli exclusion principle , so the quantum numbers set
limits on the number of electrons which can occupy a given state and therefore give insight into the
building up of the periodic table of the elements.

R(r) Principal quantum number Index

Hydrogen
P() Orbital quantum number concepts
F() Magnetic quantum number

Spin quantum number

Quantum numbers and atomic energy levels

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