The quantum number that tends to specify the orientation in space for an orbital is the

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Q: 60 (CDS-I/2004)
The quantum number that tends to specify the orientation in space for an orbital is the

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

CDS-I

stats: 

0,17,66,19,17,24,23

keywords: 

{'orbital quantum number': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'azimuthal quantum number': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'magnetic quantum number': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'quantum number': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'principal quantum number': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'orbital': [0, 0, 1, 1], 'orientation': [0, 0, 2, 0], 'space': [4, 1, 7, 12]}

The quantum number that specifies the orientation in space for an orbital is the magnetic quantum number.

Option 1: The principal quantum number (also known as the n quantum number) specifies the energy level of an electron in an atom, but it does not specify the orientation of the orbital.

Option 3: The azimuthal quantum number (also known as the l quantum number) specifies the shape of the orbital, such as s, p, d, or f orbitals. It does not directly specify the orientation.

Option 4: The orbital quantum number (also known as the ml quantum number) specifies the orientation of the orbital within a subshell. However, it does not specify the orientation in space.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 2: the magnetic quantum number. It specifies the orientation in space by indicating the number of orbitals within a subshell and their relative orientations.