Orbital

An orbital is a three-dimensional region around an atom's nucleus where there is a high probability of finding electrons. Instead of thinking of electrons as tiny particles orbiting in fixed paths, orbitals describe the zones where electrons are most likely to be located based on quantum mechanics. These regions have different shapes (spheres, dumbbells, etc.) and sizes, depending on the energy level and type of orbital. Understanding orbitals helps explain the structure of atoms and how they bond to form molecules, playing a key role in chemistry and material science.