1. Electronic Configuration:
* Magnesium (Mg) has an atomic number of 12, meaning it has 12 electrons.
* Its electronic configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s².
2. Identifying Valence Electrons:
* Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level. For magnesium, these are the two electrons in the 3s orbital.
3. Quantum Numbers:
* n (Principal Quantum Number): This describes the energy level. For the 3s electrons, n = 3.
* l (Azimuthal or Angular Momentum Quantum Number): This describes the shape of the orbital. For an s orbital, l = 0.
* ml (Magnetic Quantum Number): This describes the orientation of the orbital in space. For an s orbital, there is only one orientation, so ml = 0.
* ms (Spin Quantum Number): This describes the intrinsic angular momentum of the electron, which is also called spin. Electrons have a spin of either +1/2 or -1/2. Since we have two electrons in the 3s orbital, one will have ms = +1/2 and the other will have ms = -1/2.
Therefore, a possible set of quantum numbers for one of the valence electrons in a ground-state magnesium atom is:
* n = 3
* l = 0
* ml = 0
* ms = +1/2 (or ms = -1/2)
