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Quick question on electron orbitals


aj47

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Relevant quantum numbers: <n,l,m> . For n=1, l must be zero. For n=2, l may be zero or one; m may vary between +/- l. Photons carry spin one; this must be exchanged. States of l=n-1 are circular; the s,p,d,f...are l=0,1,2,3. What the heck were those selection rules? Energy depends on n and l.

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So when a photon is absorbed by an electron in say an S orbital, it won't be exited into a p orbital, but just into a higher energy state?

 

Actually a photon must go to a p orbital in that scenario; the photon has one unit of angular momentum. You can't get an S-to-S transition with a single photon under normal conditions. The energy state will also be higher if you absorb the photon, though n doesn't have to change (i.e. the p state has higher energy than the s state)

 

selection rules

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