Orbitals

Orbitals are regions around an atom's nucleus where electrons are likely to be found. Think of them as clouds or shapes that represent the probable locations of electrons rather than fixed paths. Each orbital can hold a specific number of electrons and has distinct shapes, such as spherical (s orbitals) or dumbbell-shaped (p orbitals). The arrangement and type of orbitals influence the chemical properties of elements, determining how they bond and interact with other atoms. Understanding orbitals is key to grasping the fundamental behavior of matter at the atomic level.