CHEM 121 glossary
Angular momentum quantum number
The quantum number , an integer from 0 to , that sets the shape of an orbital and names the subshell: = 0, 1, 2, 3 are s, p, d, f. It also equals the number of angular nodes.
allows = 0 to 3; each subshell has orbitals.
Example
For , can be 0, 1 or 2 (3s, 3p, 3d); would need , so there is no 3f.