state for which is known as a p state, so the six sets of quantum numbers just shown belong
to the 2 p state. Population of the 2 p state is started with boron and completed with neon in the fi rst
long period of the periodic table. However, each m value denotes an orbital, so there are three orbitals
where electrons can reside. Electrons remain unpaired as long as possible when populating a set of orbit-
als. For convenience, we will assume that the orbitals fi ll by starting with the highest positive value
of m fi rst and then going to successive lower values . Table 2.3 shows the maximum population of
states based on the value for l .