THE PRINCIPAL QUANTUM NUMBER The principal quantum number n describes the average distance of the orbital from the nucleus — and the energy of the electron in an atom. It can have positive integer (whole number) values: 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. The larger the value of n, the higher the energy and the larger the orbital. Chemists sometimes call the orbitals electron shells. THE ANGULAR MOMENTUM QUANTUM NUMBER The angular momentum quantum number l describes the shape of the orbital, and the shape is limited by the principal quantum number n: The angular momentum quantum number l can have positive integer values from 0 to n–1. For example, if the n value is 3, three values are allowed for l: 0, 1, and 2.