Questions: What is the smallest possible value of the principal quantum number (n) for an (s) electron? (n=)

Transcript text: What is the smallest possible value of the principal quantum number $n$ for an $s$ electron? \[ n= \]

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understanding the Principal Quantum Number

The principal quantum number, denoted as $ n $, is a positive integer that determines the energy level of an electron in an atom. It can take values of 1, 2, 3, and so on. The principal quantum number also indicates the size of the electron's orbit, with larger values of $ n $ corresponding to larger orbits.

Step 2: Identifying the Smallest Possible Value for an $ s $ Electron

Electrons are categorized into different subshells, such as $ s $, $ p $, $ d $, and $ f $, based on their angular momentum quantum number $ l $. For an $ s $ electron, the angular momentum quantum number $ l $ is 0. The smallest possible value of the principal quantum number $ n $ for any electron, including an $ s $ electron, is 1. This is because $ n $ must be a positive integer, and the smallest positive integer is 1.