Question #9f6fa
1 Answer
Electrons don't actually 'orbit' a nucleus. They do however, move around a nucleus and are most likely to be found within a determined space depending upon their energy levels.
Explanation:
Although, for illustrative purposes, we often describe electrons as 'orbiting' a nucleus (rather like the moon orbiting planet earth), this does not actually occur.
What does occur is electron MOVEMENT around an atoms nucleus. Because electrons move incredibly fast, we never actually know where an electron will be at any given moment. What we can predict, however, is the area around an atom that an electron is most LIKELY to be. These areas are desired as 'orbitals'.
When occupied, the shapes of these areas are indicative of the (relative) energy levels of an electron.
The 'orbitals' should be considered as probability densities of electrons. That is, within these shapes, electrons are most likely to be found at a given time but not that the electrons simply follow the outer curve of the shapes like an orbiting satellite of a planet does.
