One of the most important places in the scientific perception of the modern world is occupied by the so-called quantum theory. It is based on the position that the energy hidden in the electron can be calculated, since its value can take only certain values. In this case, the most important consequence of this state of things is the conclusion that the state of an electron at a given moment in time can be described by a combination of quantitative indicators - quantum numbers.
Of prime importance in this theory is the principal quantum number. In modern physics, this term is called a quantitative indicator, in accordance with which a given state of an electron is attributed to a certain energy level. The energy level, in turn, is a set of orbitals, the difference in energy value between them is extremely insignificant.
As follows from this position, the main quantum number can be equal to one of the positive natural numbers. Moreover, another fact is of fundamental importance. Indeed, in the case of the transition of an electron to a different energy level, the main quantum number will necessarily change its value. It is quite appropriate to draw a parallel with the Niels Bohr model, where an elementary particle transfers from one orbit to another, as a result of which a certain amount of energy is released or absorbed.
The principal quantum number is most directly related to the orbital quantum number. The thing is that any energy level is heterogeneous in nature and includes several orbitals at once. Those of them that have the same energy value form a separate sublevel. To find out which sublevel one or another orbital belongs to, the concept of "orbital quantum number" is applied. To calculate it, it is necessary to subtract one from the main quantum number. Then all natural numbers from zero to this indicator will be the orbital quantum number.
The most important function of this quantitative characteristic is that with its help not only does the electron correlate with one or another sublevel, but also the trajectory of the motion of this elementary particle is characterized. Hence, incidentally, is the letter designation of the orbitals, which are also known from the school chemistry course: s, d, p, g, f.
Another important characteristic of the position of an electron is a magnetic quantum number. Its main physical meaning is that it is possible to characterize the projection of the angular momentum with respect to the direction coinciding with the direction of the magnetic field. In other words, it is necessary in order to distinguish the electrons that occupy the orbitals, the quantum number of which is the same.
The magnetic quantum number can vary within 2l + 1, where l is the quantitative characteristic of the orbital quantum number. In addition, they also distinguish the magnetic spin number, which is necessary in order to characterize the quantum property of an elementary particle in its pure form. Spin is nothing more than a moment of momentum that can be compared with the rotation of an electron around its own imaginary axis.