Define atomic orbital. - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question c - 2002

An atomic orbital is defined as a region around the nucleus of an atom where there is a high probability of finding an electron. This can also be described as the volume of space in which the electron is most likely to be located. Furthermore, an atomic orbital is fundamentally connected to the solutions of Schrödinger's equation, which describes the wave function of the electron. This wave function provides the mathematical framework to visualize the behavior and location probability of electrons in atoms.