Which property of an electron in an atom is determined by the angular momentum quantum number (l)?

• A. The spin direction of the electron
• B. The shape of the atomic orbital
• C. The orientation of the orbital in space
• D. The energy level of the electron

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the angular momentum quantum number, denoted as \(l\), is one of the four quantum numbers used to describe the unique quantum state of an electron in an atom.
2. Understand that \(l\) determines the shape of the atomic orbital where the electron is likely to be found. The possible values of \(l\) range from 0 to \(n-1\), where \(n\) is the principal quantum number.
3. Recognize that each value of \(l\) corresponds to a specific type of orbital shape: \(l=0\) corresponds to s orbitals (spherical), \(l=1\) to p orbitals (dumbbell-shaped), \(l=2\) to d orbitals (cloverleaf-shaped), and \(l=3\) to f orbitals (more complex shapes).
4. Note that the spin direction of the electron is determined by the spin quantum number \(m_s\), not by \(l\).
5. Also, the orientation of the orbital in space is determined by the magnetic quantum number \(m_l\), and the energy level is primarily determined by the principal quantum number \(n\).