Have Orbitals Really Been Observed?

1492 Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 77 No. 11 November 2000 • JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu The purpose of this article is to comment on the pedagogical ramifications of the recently claimed observation of d orbitals and the way in which these results were first announced and subsequently reported (1–6 ). Atomic orbitals—their use in writing electronic configurations and as a means of rationalizing so much of modern chemistry—have, rightly or wrongly, become ubiquitous in textbooks as well as the research literature. Orbitals are part of the lingua franca of chemistry. They represent one of chemistry’s major paradigms, to use a much abused term (7 ). Surely it is essential that claims to having arrived at a new understanding of such a crucially important educational concept should be subjected to close scrutiny. It is also essential for chemical educators at all levels to take note of these developments in order to adjust their teaching accordingly if such adjustments are necessary. At the very least, educators should take some time to reflect on the meaning of such an important concept as an atomic orbital when it is claimed that, contrary to previous beliefs, they have now been observed for the first time.