An atomic orbital is best described as a region in an atom where there is a high probability of finding an electron. This concept is fundamental to quantum mechanics and reflects the wave-like behavior of electrons. Unlike the older Bohr model, which depicted electrons traveling in fixed paths or orbits around the nucleus, the modern quantum mechanical model describes atomic orbitals in terms of probability densities.
In this probabilistic model, orbitals do not define exact locations for electrons, but rather areas where they are most likely to be found at any given time. This means that instead of thinking of electrons as particles moving along defined paths, it's more accurate to visualize them as being distributed in various shapes around the nucleus, with some areas being denser and more probable locations for the electrons.
Understanding atomic orbitals is key to grasping how electrons interact with each other and with the nucleus, influencing chemical bonding and the properties of atoms.