|
Unlimited Tutoring & Homework Help
|
|
Electrons cannot exist at a particular point or in a well-defined orbit (path), according to the above new approach called wave mechanics. This led to the concept of 'most probable regions'. We talk about 'certain regions in space around the nucleus called atomic orbitals, where the probability (chances) of finding the electron is maximum (90%-95%)'.
An atomic orbital differs from an orbit (Bohr's orbit) in the following ways.
| Orbit | Orbital |
|---|---|
| An orbit is a well defined circular path around the nucleus, in which the electron revolves | An orbital is a region in space around the nucleus, where the probability of finding the electron is maximum. It may be dumb bell or spherical in shape |
| It represents the movement of an electron around the nucleus in one plane | It represents a three dimensional motion a an electron around the nucleus |
| The position as well as the momentum can be known with certainty in a orbit | The uncertainity principle holds good with respect to position and velocity. An orbital has the concept of most probable regions where the probability of locating the electron is maximum |
| It can accommodate a maximum of 2n2 electrons where ‘n is the number of the orbit | This can accommodate only two electrons with paired spins |
