Difference Between Orbit and Orbitals

The difference between orbit and orbitals is important to understand in the field of chemistry. The important thing to understand is that they are different from one another. Even though they sound the same and it is quite possible for one to get confused with other, one should understand the key differences between one and the other.

An orbit is the fixed path along which electrons revolve around the nucleus of the atom. Thus, all atoms particularly revolve in an orbit. Molecular orbital theory is important to understand here.

Orbit

• An orbit is the simple planar representation of an electron.
• It can be simply defined as the path that gets established in a circular motion by revolving the electron around the nucleus
• The shape of molecules cannot be explained by an orbit as they are non-directional by nature.
• An orbit that is well-defined goes against the Heisenberg principle.

Orbitals

• An orbital refers to the dimensional motion of an electron around the nucleus in a three-dimensional motion.
• An orbital can simply be defined as the space or the region where the electron is likely to be found the most.
• The shapes of the molecules can be found out as they are directional by nature.
• An ideal orbital agrees with the theory of Heisenberg’s Principles.