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Which statement below best describes the difference between an orbit and an orbital?
a. An orbit is a fixed path around the nucleus where an electron must be found; an orbital is a probability region where an electron is likely (but
not necessarily) going to be found
b. An orbit and an orbital are the same thing
c. An orbital is a fixed path around the nucleus where an electron must be found; an orbit is a probability region where an electron is likely (but
not necessarily) going to be found


Sagot :

Answer:

An orbit is a fixed path around the nucleus where an electron must be found; an orbital is a probability region where an electron is likely (but

not necessarily) going to be found

Explanation:

Orbits are fixed elliptical paths where an electron must be found. The idea of orbits was introduced in the Bohr model of the atom. Electrons were shown to occupy fixed orbitals of quantized energy.

Orbital is an idea introduced by quantum mechanics. It refers to a region in space where an electron may be found. The wave mechanical approach does not view the electron as being found in a fixed orbital but rather defines a region in space around the nucleus where there is a high probability of finding the electron.