orbit in the hydrogen atom. This arises from the fact, that even though the electron only enters the inner configuration of the first ten electrons for short intervals during its revolution, this part of the orbit will nevertheless exert an essential influence upon the determination of the principal quantum number. This is directly related to the fact that the motion of the electron in the first part of the orbit deviates only a little from the motion which each of the previously bound electrons in
orbits executes during a complete revolution. The uncertainty which has prevailed in the determination of the quantum numbers for the stationary states corresponding to a spectrum like that of sodium is connected with this. This question has been discussed by several physicists. From a comparison of the spectral terms of the various alkali metals, Roschdestwensky has drawn the conclusion that the normal state does not, as we might be inclined to expect a priori, correspond to a
orbit as shown in Fig. 2 on [p. 79], but that this state corresponds to a
orbit. Schrödinger has arrived at a similar result in an attempt to account for the great difference between the
terms and the terms in the
