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In an atom the circles where the electrons r situated n revolve round the nucleus is called its orbit.then wat r orbitals? And y r they called so?

2007-01-13 22:10:22 · 6 answers · asked by Sye4u 2 in Science & Mathematics Chemistry

6 answers

An orbit is the path that an electron follows while revolving. Whereas an orbital is the space around the nuclues where the probability of finding the electrons is the maximum.

2007-01-14 17:53:26 · answer #1 · answered by rose_brit3 2 · 0 0

orbits are the circular paths where the electrons revolve at very high speed. orbital is the three dimensional space around the nucleaus where the probability of finding the electron is maximum.
In physics, an orbit is the path that an object makes around another object while under the influence of a source of centripetal force, such as gravity.
The electron orbitals presented represent a volume of space within which an electron would have a certain probability of being based on particular energy states and atoms. For example, in a simple lowest-energy state hydrogen atom, the electrons are most likely to be found within a sphere around the nucleus of an atom. In a higher energy state, the shapes become lobes and rings, due to the interaction of the quantum effects between the different atomic particles. In addition to technical merits, they make pretty pictures.
The shape of the orbital depends on many factors. The most important are the quantum numbers associated with the particular energy state. These are n, the principal quantum number, l, the oribital quantum number, and m, the angular momentum quantum number.

2007-01-14 08:07:38 · answer #2 · answered by pretty me 2 · 0 0

An orbit is a circular path around which electrons revolve arond the nucleus and an orbital is a three dimensional space in which there is a maximum probability of finding an electron.In an orbit maximum of 2(n*n) electrons can be filled whereas only 2 electrons can be filled in an orbital.All the orbits are circular in shape but different orbitals have different shapes.Orbits doesnot have any directional characteristics where as except for 's orbital' others have directional characteristics.

2007-01-17 08:01:22 · answer #3 · answered by anumon 1 · 0 0

Electron orbits originate from the Bohr model of the atom, where electrons are thought of as travelling in energy shell 'orbits' around the nucleus.

As scientists become more aware of the properties of electrons, with Heisenburg's uncertainty principle and Scrodinger's equation, they understood that electrons don't actually travel in orbits, but 'electron density clouds' that show the most likely regions in which we can find electrons. These orbitals may look spherical (s shell) or dumbelled shapes (others). Each orbital can hold 2 electrons and arranged in a special way to minimise repelling effects of each other.

See links below for pictures and better descriptions.

2007-01-14 07:20:06 · answer #4 · answered by koala_paradise 3 · 0 0

in all cases from atoms to space an orbit is the path and an orbiter is the thing traveling the path

2007-01-14 06:13:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Don't believe Says Me. Koala paradise has the perfect answer. Vote his as the best answer

2007-01-16 05:07:20 · answer #6 · answered by STR Bargav 1 · 0 0

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