How do you find the quantum numbers of highest energy electrons of Phosphorus?

Any ideas?How do you find the quantum numbers of highest energy electrons of Phosphorus?
There are four quantum numbers





Phosphorous is located in the third row of the periodic table in the nitrogen group. Phosphorous has 15 electrons. The highest energy electron would be the 15th and final electron.





quantum number, n:


This is the number that specifies the row of the electron. Since phosphorous is in the third row, the highest energy electron would have a quantum number n = 3.





quantum number, l:


This specifies what type of orbital the electron is in:


s orbital, l = 0


p orbital, l = 1


d orbital, l = 2


Since the 15th electron occupies the p-orbital, l = 1





quantum number, m (some textbook call this m sub s):


Since this is a p-orbital, the m states are -1, 0, and 1. The m states are integers from -|l| to |l|. There are three because it's a p-orbital. There are 1 for s-orbitals and there are 5 for d-orbitals. m is either -1, 0, or 1. We'll go the the next step to see what m is.





quantum number, s (some textbook call this m sub s):


The spin is either +1/2 or -1/2. Because of Hund's rule, the +1/2 spins are filled up first. The m states are filled from lowest to highest. So, the first six p-states filled are in the following order:


1) m = -1, s = 1/2


2) m = 0, s = 1/2


3) m = 1, s = 1/2


4) m = -1, s = 1/2


5) m = 0, s = 1/2


m = 1, s = 1/2





Since the 15th electron is the third filled for the 3p state (n = 3, l = 1), the number for the highest electron of Phosphorous is


n = 3, l = 1, m = 1, s = 1/2How do you find the quantum numbers of highest energy electrons of Phosphorus?
In atomic physics and quantum chemistry, electron configuration is the arrangement of electrons in an atom, molecule, or other physical structure.[1] Like other elementary particles, the electron is subject to the laws of quantum mechanics, and exhibits both particle-like and wave-like nature. Formally, the quantum state of a particular electron is defined by its wave function, a complex-valued function of space and time. According to the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics, the position of a particular electron is not well defined until an act of measurement causes it to be detected. The probability that the act of measurement will detect the electron at a particular point in space is proportional to the square of the absolute value of the wavefunction at that point.