- #1
mariush
- 28
- 0
Hey guys!
I didn't know where else to turn to but this forum.
I am trying to figure out what the difference between a orbital and a shell really is, and what an orbital is in reality.
As I understand, E in the Schrödinger equation represents the binding energy for the electron to the nucleus. For an H-atom, it is given by -R_h/n^2, where R_h is the rydberg constant, and n is an positive integer that represents the different possible energy levels for the electron. From what I've read, n represents the "electron shell", and the orbitals are electrons with the same energy within the same shell.
So my question is, what is it that really determines the energy of the electron? Distance from the nucleus or mechanical energy? And how do I tell the difference between a shell and an orbital?
If you know a place i can read up on this, I'll happily do so.
Thanks! Marius
I didn't know where else to turn to but this forum.
I am trying to figure out what the difference between a orbital and a shell really is, and what an orbital is in reality.
As I understand, E in the Schrödinger equation represents the binding energy for the electron to the nucleus. For an H-atom, it is given by -R_h/n^2, where R_h is the rydberg constant, and n is an positive integer that represents the different possible energy levels for the electron. From what I've read, n represents the "electron shell", and the orbitals are electrons with the same energy within the same shell.
So my question is, what is it that really determines the energy of the electron? Distance from the nucleus or mechanical energy? And how do I tell the difference between a shell and an orbital?
If you know a place i can read up on this, I'll happily do so.
Thanks! Marius