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Atomic orbitals
Intermediate
Shapes s, p, d, f define probability clouds.
Orbitals are regions of high electron probability: s spherical, p dumbbell, d cloverleaf. They're not paths. Their shapes explain chemical bonding.
2p has a node at the nucleus.
Orbitals ≠ orbits.
In more detail
Atomic orbitals are wavefunctions describing where electrons are likely to be found. They are labelled by quantum numbers and have characteristic shapes such as s, p and d.
Real-world uses
- Chemists explain chemical bonding using orbitals.
- Molecular modelling software displays orbital shapes.
- Chemists use orbital shapes to understand how atoms bond to make molecules and what angles they form.
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Frequently asked questions
Do electrons orbit like planets?
No. Orbitals describe probability clouds, not definite paths.
What is the shape of an s orbital?
Spherically symmetric about the nucleus.
Are orbitals real paths?
No. They are probability clouds showing where an electron is likely to be found.
Related topics in Quantum Mechanics
Zero point energy · Hydrogen atom in quantum mechanics · Quantum numbers · Electron spin · Stern–Gerlach experiment · Pauli exclusion principle