What is a electron cloud is shaped like?

Answer 1

The "shape" of an electron cloud is the surface of equal probability for electrons of a given energy. The shapes can be calculated from the Schrödinger equation. Being quantum phenomena, the identified shape is actually a probability cloud defining the volume within which 50% of the electrons will be found, the other 50% of the electrons will be found outside that cloud. Electron clouds have many different strange shapes.

The simplest electron clouds are the clouds for the s orbitals, which are spherical - so in that case - no, the s-orbital electron cloud is NOT shaped like a drop (although you would expect the nucleus to be at its center)

There are three perpendicular electron clouds for the p orbitals, which are roughly hourglass shaped - or, if you will, two blobs that mirror each other across the nucleus - not exactly drop shaped.

The five electron clouds for the d orbitals and the seven electron clouds for the f orbitals become progressively harder to describe in words but all have portions that could be described as "tear-drop" shaped with the narrow end pointing towards the nucleus.

Answer 2

If you could see them they may look like a cloud. Many people do describe their orbits like that because their positions can not be exactly pinpointed. They move much much faster than an orbit like the ones the planets move in.

Answer 3

The electron cloud is not shaped like a fixed, specific form. Instead, it represents the space around an atomic nucleus where electrons are likely to be found, based on their probability distribution. The shape of the electron cloud is described by different atomic models like the spherical shape in the Bohr model or complex shapes in the quantum mechanical model.

Answer 4

it looks like your grandmas' face! =) ha ha

Answer 5

negatively charged electrons

Answer 6

a cloud