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Orbital vs Subshell - What's the difference?

orbital | subshell |

As nouns the difference between orbital and subshell

is that orbital is orbital while subshell is (chemistry|physics) atomic orbitals for which the values of the n and l quantum numbers are the same, such as the three 2p or five 3d atomic orbitals.

orbital

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or relating to an orbit.
  • Of or relating to the eye socket (eyehole).
  • Noun

    (electron orbital) (en noun)
  • (label) A specification of the energy and probability density of an electron at any point in an atom or molecule
  • An orbital motorway
  • Derived terms

    * atomic orbital * molecular orbital

    See also

    * quantum number

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    subshell

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chemistry, physics) Atomic orbitals for which the values of the n and l quantum numbers are the same, such as the three 2p or five 3d atomic orbitals.
  • (computing) A child process launched by a shell.