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So we can't really provide a precise visual image of the atom, but vaguely an estimation...
Electron Cloud...

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For clarification, that is just one probability cloud for one to two electrons of a particular energy level (it is the d-z^2 orbital). The different colors correspond to different signs (positive/negative) of the wavefunction.

The electron(s) of this energy level are found to be within the volume of this orbital 90% of the time. As you can tell from the shapes of some of the more complicated orbitals, any consistent "orbit" you could imagine for an electron would have to be very convoluted to result in the electron being within the orbital's volume 90% of the time. The electron would have to constantly change speed and direction (ie accelerate). Because electrons have a mass, as tiny as it is, it takes energy to accelerate.

But the wavefunction producing the orbital/probability cloud does not require an input of energy to remain constant with time. That is why I don't think of the electron as moving, because any motion of an electron which stays within an orbital 90% of the time would be accelerated motion, which requires an energy input that the mathematics do not call for.

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Meade DS-2130AT w/ GOTO
Nikon 12x50AEs


Without judgement what would we do? We would be forced to look at ourselves...

-Death

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