Question

differentiate between orbit and orbital

Answer 1

Orbit

In our solar system, the paths on which the planets revolve are called orbits. These are strange elliptical paths which are fixed for every single planet, and these planets move on this path with their angular velocities and central acceleration. The same is the case with atoms. Orbits are the fixed paths around which electrons revolve around the nucleus of the atom following the same principle as that of the planets.

Orbital

If you think that one can tell the exact position of electrons at a certain time, you are actually wrong. According to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle:

“One can never know with perfect accuracy both of those two important factors which determine the movement of one of the smallest particles (electrons)—its position and its velocity. It is impossible to determine accurately both the position and the direction and speed of a particle or electron at the same instant.”

So an orbital is an uncertain area inside an atom within which the probability to find an electron(s) is highest. It represents the three-dimensional space around the nucleus. Orbitals occur in various shapes and capacities in accordance with the element and its atomic number. They are categorized as s, p, d and f type orbital. The maximum capacities of these orbital are:

s orbital – 2 electrons

p orbital – 6 electrons

d orbital – 10 electrons

f orbital – 16 electrons

Answer 2

Orbits are fixed position where electron revolves and orbital are 3dimensional structure where electron finding probability is max