Knowra Atomic orbital Atomic orbital An atomic orbital is a mathematical function describing an electron’s quantum state in an atom, including its energy and spatial probability distribution.
Schrödinger equation : A differential equation governing how quantum states change and, in stationary cases, which energy states are allowed. Solving it for an atomic potential yields the orbital wavefunctions and energies.
Principal quantum number : An integer quantum number that chiefly determines an orbital’s energy and characteristic size in a hydrogen-like atom. It identifies the shell and sets the main scale of an orbital.
Electron configuration : The distribution of an atom’s electrons among its available quantum states. Electron configurations specify which orbitals are occupied in an atom.
Bohr model : An early atomic model in which electrons occupy quantized circular orbits around a nucleus. Unlike Bohr’s paths, orbitals describe quantum states without definite electron trajectories.
Wavefunction : A mathematical description of a quantum system whose squared magnitude gives probabilities for measurement outcomes. An orbital is an electron wavefunction specialized to an atom.
Azimuthal quantum number : A quantum number specifying an orbital’s angular momentum magnitude and subshell type. Its allowed values distinguish s, p, d, and higher orbital shapes.
Aufbau principle : A rule of thumb for constructing ground-state electron configurations by filling lower-energy orbitals first. It uses orbital energy ordering to predict how electrons populate atoms.
Electron trajectory : A path specifying a particle’s position as a function of time. An orbital gives probabilities, not a definite path through space.
Quantum number : A discrete value specifying a quantized property of a quantum state. Quantum numbers label an orbital’s energy, angular momentum, orientation, and spin state.
Magnetic quantum number : A quantum number specifying a component of angular momentum along a chosen axis. It distinguishes the possible orientations within an angular-momentum subshell.
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