Question

What is the maximum numbers of electrons that can be associated with the following set of quantum numbers?
$n=3,l=1$ and $m=-1$

• A. $10$
• B. $6$
• C. $4$
• D. $2$

Answer 1

The correct option is D $2$

We know that electrons have spin as $m_s=\pm \frac{1}{2}$

According to Pauli's exclusion principle, no two electrons can have all the four quantum same.

Thus one electron has quantum numbers as: $n=3;l=1;m=-1;m_s=\frac{1}{2}$

And other electron has quantum numbers as: $n=3;l=1;m=-1;m_s=-\frac{1}{2}$

Thus, 2 electrons can be associated with a given set of quantum numbers.

Hence, the correct option is $D$