What is the significance of orbital angular momentum in atomic structure?

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Orbital angular momentum is a quantum property associated with the angular momentum of electrons in their respective orbitals around an atomic nucleus. It parallels classical angular momentum but is represented by an operator and features discrete states. Each type of orbital corresponds to a specific angular momentum value: s orbitals have L=0 and are spherically symmetric, while p orbitals have L=1 and exhibit a dumbbell shape. The angular momentum influences the orbital's shape, while the radial aspect is determined by linear momentum, which describes the electron's motion toward or away from the nucleus.
Garvit Goel
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What is orbital angular momentum? Is it associated to the revolution of electron around nucleus?
 
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Yes. Do you know what classical angular momentum is?
 
alxm said:
Yes. Do you know what classical angular momentum is?

yes, but never heard of orbital angular momentum before.
 
Garvit Goel said:
yes, but never heard of orbital angular momentum before.

Well, quantum angular momentum is like classical angular momentum, only that, as with all quantum properties, it's represented by an operator instead and has discrete states.

The energy states of an electron in an atom are 'orbitals', and 'orbital angular momentum' is the angular momentum that's associated with that particular orbital. The angular momentum state determines the angle-dependent part of the orbital's shape. s orbitals have L=0, zero angular momentum and are spherically symmetric, p orbitals have L=1 and are dumbbell-shaped, and so on. (the radial shape of the orbital, on the other hand, depends on the linear momentum, i.e. the motion towards and away from the nucleus, if you will.)
 

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