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orbital science definition
A partial description of the quantum state of an electron (or other particle) orbiting the nucleus of an atom. Different orbitals have different shapes and orientations, depending on the energy of the electron, its angular momentum, and its magnetic number. Orbitals have no clear boundaries; the shape of an orbital, as depicted graphically, shows only the regions around the nucleus in which an electron has a relatively high probability of being found. No more than two electrons (each with opposite spin) can coexist in a single orbital because of the Pauli exclusion principle. See also probability wave, quantum number, shell..
orbital
The shape of atomic orbitals is governed by several factors, the most important of which are the quantum numbers which individually characterize an electron and collectively specify its state in an atom. In a hydrogen atom, for example, the electron is most likely to be found within a sphere around the nucleus. In atoms with higher energy states, the space in which the electrons are most likely to be found are represented by more complex shapes.
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