S-orbital Motion

Most recent answer: 03/25/2015

Q:
how do electrons spin in s orbital, as it is spherical in shape... does it move in a circular path or its a three dimentional motion?
- Anonymous (age 18)
A:

The electrons in s-states don't orbit at all. Their orbital angular momentum is zero. Their expected tangential velocity is zero. 

The only angular momentum they have is their intrinsic spin, which is unrelated to their orbital state. It's pesent even in a spread out electron cloud that's not part of an atom.

Mike W.


(published on 03/25/2015)