| 6.2 |
Pauli exclusion principle |
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The Pauli exclusion principle states that no two electrons in an atom (or a molecule) can have the same set of values of all the four quantum numbers. This means that a second electron when placed in the same orbital as the first with quantum numbers n1 , l1 and ml1 and ms = + ½ will have its spin quantum number ms = -1/2. An analogy can be made to two twin brothers living in the same house. If both of them are given the same name, you can imagine the confusion. But while in principle, these two twins can be given the same name, no two electrons can have the same set of values for all the four quantum numbers. |
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Since, you know that this is not the PEP and is only a follow up, you are better off stating the PEP: |
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The wave function of a system is anti symmetry with respect to interchange of electron indices in an atom or a molecule. |
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