Can someone explain to me the quantum mechanical model in plain English?

Question

Can someone exlain it to me using the principal quantum number (n), quantum number (l), magnetic quantum number (m) spin quantum number (s) in a sensible and visual way?

Answer 1

The quantum mechanical model of the atom simply says that electrons only exist at certain "energy levels". They do NOT exist in between energy levels. When an electron changes energy levels, ie: when it gets "excited" or reacts with some other substance, etc., the electrons "jump" to their new energy level WITHOUT any transition between the levels. This is where the term "quantum leap" comes from. (Often used to describe a sudden, new idea, with nothing occurring in between).

NOTE: l, m and s are often referred to as sub levels or sub orbitals.

You will also quickly learn to be able to give the electron configuration of elements simply by looking at the Periodic Table. It is not hard, but there are a couple exceptions. Your chem teacher will explain that to you (as well as your textbook).

If you not understand "energy level", reverse the words, to become "level of energy of an electron". The more energy an electron has, the higher the level of energy it exists at, or thus, the higher energy level.

Imagine the solar system.

the priniciple quantum number would correspond to distance the planet is from the sun. Thus Mercury would be 1, Venus 2, Earth 3, etc.. the magnetic quantum number describes the SHAPE of the electron cloud (s, p, d, f levels. s = spherical, and there is only one shape and it holds two electrons. p = "dumbbell" shape, and there are three possible shapes for these dumb bells, one in the x direction, one in the y direction and one in the z direction, if you express it graphically. the d level consists of 5 different shapes, and the f level consists of 7 different shapes. Note that each shape can only contain two electrons, each opposite in spin. Thus the spin quantum number will be categorized as either +1/2 or -1/2 . Forget about the magnetic quantum number, it makes no difference at the beginner level.

The immense importance of Niels Bohr's discover of quantum mechanics is, simply put, that electrons only exist at certain levels of energy AND THAT THEY JUMP FROM ONE LEVEL TO ANOTHER, with NOTHING INBETWEEN. Emphasize nothing inbetween!!!

Answer 2

Can't do anything visual with answers.yahoo; limited to text only.

Each of the numbers you cite represents discrete energy levels of different kinds for atoms. Each quantum (a wave packet) has discrete levels of energy depending on the combination of numbers you gave.

These discrete energy levels come as multiples of the quantum numbers, which are generally whole numbers 1, 2, etc. except for the spins, which are 1/2 and - 1/2. Check out:

"A quantum number describes the energies of electrons in atoms. Each quantum number specifies the value of a conserved quantity in the dynamics of the quantum system. Since any quantum system can have one or more quantum numbers, it is a futile job to list all possible quantum numbers." [See source.]

I can give you one visualization for n. Suppose you have a tympani drum. You spread sand evenly over its head. Then you strike the drum head repeatedly. If you continue to do this just right, you will begin to notice the sand will shift to form distinct rings around the middle of the drum head.

Each ring marks one n number, one distinct energy level on that drum head. You can repeat the experiment over and over; and you will continue to get the same number of rings and the same spacings between each one. Those correspond to the discrete energy levels on the drum head, just like the discrete shell energy levels around an atom.