“spin”

[LyahFitzpatrick 2E]

What does spin refer to? Do electrons really spin in certain directions? Does it have to do with magnetism?

[Autumn Jackson Dis 1J]

The spin refers to the electron's rotation about its own "axis" which can either be clockwise or counterclockwise. There might be other reasons, but one I read for its existence is that to keep conservation of orbital angular momentum, the electron mathematically also needs to have intrinsic (spin) angular momentum.

[Warren Jolicoeur 1B]

In my High School chemistry it was explained like this. Electrons are negatively charged. Which means that they repel each other. But simultaneously, electrons are in orbitals in pairs. How can this be? The actual spin of such electrons allows them to be in pairs. One with a positive spin and the other with a negative spin. Therefore opposites attract and electrons can exist in pairs while simultaneously being negatively charged.