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Chemistry vocabulary · Atoms and the Periodic Table

Orbital

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

/ˈɔːbɪtl/nounCommon term

In chemistry, orbital means: A region around the nucleus where an electron is likely to be found. Each one holds at most two electrons, and the main types are labeled s, p, d and f.

In Turkish: orbital

How it is used

Used in atomic structure, bonding theory and organic chemistry. You talk about filling orbitals, orbital overlap, hybrid orbitals such as sp³, and empty or half-filled orbitals.

Example sentences

  1. Each p orbital can hold two electrons with opposite spins.

  2. The carbon atom in methane uses four sp³ hybrid orbitals.

Common collocations

  • p orbital
  • hybrid orbital
  • orbital overlap
  • fill an orbital
  • molecular orbital
  • electron configurationThe way an atom's electrons are arranged in shells and orbitals, written for example as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹ for sodium.
  • electronA tiny particle with a negative charge that moves around the nucleus of an atom. Chemical bonds and reactions are mostly about how these particles are shared or transferred.
  • covalent bondA chemical bond in which two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. It usually forms between nonmetal atoms, as in H₂, H₂O and CH₄.

More terms: Atoms and the Periodic Table

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