Atomic orbital
An orbital is a region around the nucleus where an electron is most likely to be found. An s orbital is a sphere. A p orbital is shaped like a dumbbell. Each orbital holds at most two electrons.
Last updated
Analogy
Like a cloud of mist rather than a racetrack: dense where the electron is likely, thin where it is not.
Example
s: 1 orbital (2 electrons)p: 3 orbitals (6 electrons)d: 5 orbitals (10 electrons)f: 7 orbitals (14 electrons)
In practice
The shape of orbitals decides the shape of molecules, because bonds form where orbitals overlap.
Practice
Flashcards
- How many orbitals are in a p subshell, and how many electrons fit?Three orbitals, holding up to six electrons.
Questions people ask
Is an orbital the same as an orbit?
No. An orbit, from the old Bohr model, was a fixed circular path. An orbital is a probability map showing where an electron is likely to be found. The electron has no exact path, so we can only describe how likely each place is.
What is a node in an orbital?
A node is a place where the chance of finding the electron is zero. A 2s orbital has one spherical node inside it. A 2p orbital has a flat node through the nucleus, which is why the two lobes of a dumbbell are separated.