TERMIUM Plus®

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ELECTRON ORBITAL [2 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 - external organization data 1997-12-22

English

Subject field(s)
  • Chemistry
  • Atomic Physics
  • Compartment - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
DEF

one of the electrons that according to the theory of Rutherford and Bohr revolve in an orbit about the nucleus of an atom.

DEF

Electrons in extranuclear structure of atom.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Chimie
  • Physique atomique
  • Tiroir - Commission canadienne de sûreté nucléaire
CONT

planétaire : Se dit d'un corps dont le mouvement s'apparente à celui d'une planète [p. ex.] : «Électron planétaire».

Spanish

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Record 2 1993-04-09

English

Subject field(s)
  • Chemistry
  • Atomic Physics
DEF

Wave function of electron in atom, molecule or solid state, computed by any one-electron approximation method.

CONT

"orbital theory": The quantum theory of matter applied to the nature and behavior of the electron, either in single atoms (atomic orbital) or in united atoms (molecular orbital). ... In simple language, the orbital theory considers the electron not as a particle, but as a three-dimensional wave that can exist at several energy levels; its exact location and position in the "shell" (which in most elements is a group of orbitals) cannot be precisely determined, but only predicted by the laws of mathematical probability. The orbital levels and the movement of electrons within them are expressed by wave functions and quantum numbers. The probability that an electron will be found in a given volume (i.e., the square of the one-electron wave function) is called the orbital of that electron, and the shape of the orbital is defined by surfaces of constant probability (i.e. spheres and doughnut-shaped ellipses). The electron orbital, described in terms of probability, is like a cloud, with indefinite boundaries.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Chimie
  • Physique atomique
DEF

«Orbitale atomique» ou «moléculaire» : distribution spatiale d'un électron dans un atome, des électrons de liaison dans une molécule. (Dans la mesure où, en théorie quantique, le carré du module de la fonction d'onde de l'électron représente sa densité de probabilité de localisation, le mot «orbitale» est souvent entendu en un sens synonyme de «fonction d'onde».

OBS

La notion d'orbitale a remplacé celle d'orbite, propre au modèle planétaire de Bohr, lorsque fut reconnue l'impossibilité d'attribuer des trajectoires aux électrons atomiques.

Spanish

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