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The Magnetic Quantum Number, ml

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State

The magnetic quantum number, ml, ranges from −l to +l and sets a specific orbital's spatial orientation within its subshell.

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The p subshell, with l = 1, has three ml values, −1, 0, and +1, giving three p orbitals oriented along three axes.

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Different ml values within one subshell describe orbitals of identical shape and energy, differing only in spatial orientation.