What is the spin quantum number (m_s) for an electron in an orbital?
Correct Answer: +1/2 or -1/2
- Step 1: Understand that electrons have a property called 'spin'.
- Step 2: Know that the spin of an electron can be thought of as a tiny magnet that can point in two directions.
- Step 3: The two possible directions for the spin are represented by the numbers +1/2 and -1/2.
- Step 4: When an electron is in an orbital, it can have either a spin of +1/2 or -1/2.
- Step 5: This means that each orbital can hold two electrons, one with +1/2 spin and one with -1/2 spin.
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