Does an Electron in a Ground State S Orbital Cease to Orbit the Nucleus?

[apkrishna1963]

Orbital Angular momentum quantum number of an electron in its ground state - s - state is zero, l = 0. That means in S - state atom do not have orbital angular momentum. If it is not, then is electron stop orbiting round the nucleus? How to explain this aspect? Or wether we have to abndon the particle notion of electron ? Please make discussion.

 

[DrDu]

Well, classically this corresponds to an electron falling tru and fru the nucleus. In QM, the orientation of the line through the nucleus becomes indeterminate.

 

[Redbelly98]

Well, classically this corresponds to an electron falling tru and fru the nucleus. In QM, the orientation of the line through the nucleus becomes indeterminate.

Not only is the line's orientation indeterminate, but all orientations are equally probable. Hence the spherical symmetry of the S state wavefunctions.

 

[granpa]

an electron in a ground state S orbital has no orbital angular momentum
it only has spin