Question

What is an s-orbital?

Answer 1

Hint: In an atom, we know there are electrons in the atom and there are some special places around the nucleus in specific shapes in which the electrons are mostly found. Four different types of orbitals are s-orbital, p-orbital, d-orbital, and f-orbital.

Complete answer:
We know that there are many elements that are there in nature and these are differentiated by the number of electrons in its atom. In an atom, we know there are electrons in the atom and there are some special places around the nucleus in specific shapes in which the electrons are mostly found. So, this place is known as orbital. There are different types of orbitals by the shapes of the orbital and the number of electrons that are accommodated in the orbitals. Four different types of orbitals are s-orbital, p-orbital, d-orbital, and f-orbital.
So, the s-orbital is an orbital in which the electrons can be found. Its shape is spherical, and all the charge density is within the shape. The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated by any s-orbital is 2 and these must have opposite spin. There are many s-orbitals by the number of principal quantum numbers, i.e., 1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, and 7s. As the number principle quantum number increases, the size of the s-orbital also increases.

Note:
The shape of other orbitals, i.e., p-orbital is dumb-bell shaped as it can accommodate 6 electrons, d-orbital is double dumb-bell shaped as it can accommodate 10 electrons and f-orbital is tetrahedral shaped as it can accommodate 14 electrons.