What are Atomic Orbitals?
Atomic orbitals are the three-dimensional space near the nucleus of an atom where the possibility of discovering an electron is maximum.
An atom, according to the quantum atomic model, can have an infinite number of orbitals. These orbitals can be classified based on their size, shape, or orientation. A narrower orbital means there’s a better probability of catching an electron close to the nucleus. The orbital wave function is often known as a mathematical function that is used to express the coordinates of an electron. The likelihood of locating an electron is represented by the square of the orbital wave function. This wave function also aids in the creation of boundary surface diagrams.
Shapes of Atomic Orbitals
Atomic orbitals, which are mathematical functions, describe the wave behavior of electrons (or electron pairs) in an atom. Atomic orbitals have different shapes according to their type. The different shapes of atomic orbitals describe that there is either the highest or zero probability of finding an electron around the nucleus in some directions. There are four types of orbitals, each with a different shape and represented by the letters s, p, d, and f. The s and p orbitals are taken into account because they are the most abundant in chemical and biological chemistry. An s-orbital has a spherical nucleus in the center, a p-orbital is dumbbell-shaped, and four of the five d orbitals are cloverleaf shaped. The fifth d orbital is fashioned like a long dumbbell with a doughnut in the center. The orbitals of an atom are organized into layers or electron shells.