electron's spin

[605720459 1I]

What does it mean by an electron having spin up or spin down? I understand that there is one of each in each orbital, but what is the context of it?

[Shreya Thyagarajan Dis1A]

Hi,
I was also pretty confused by this, but I believe it means that the electrons themselves are spinning around an axis within their orbitals, rather than being stationary. The electron configurations also tell us that if there are two electrons in one orbital, they spin in opposite directions. I hope that helps clear things up a little bit!

[Kayla Arellano 1K]

What does it mean by an electron having spin up or spin down? I understand that there is one of each in each orbital, but what is the context of it?

Electrons have angular momentum so this causes them to spin. I read that if the electron spins clockwise on its axis, it is described as spin-up and counterclockwise is spin-down.

[Madison Rhynhart 3H]

Yes! The spin of an electron merely refers to the idea of the inherent properties of electrons for which one is that the electrons spin around their axis which is denoted by the +1/2 or -1/2 in the quantum number s. These spins are important because they allow for two electrons to occupy the same orbital as the opposite spins cancel each other out and don't unbalance the orbital.

[Edmond Chu 1C]

An electron spin is just the way the electron spins around its orbital. If an electron spins clockwise, it is spin up and if it spins counterclockwise, it is spin down. By having an electron spin up and spin down, electrons can be in the same orbital and the spins will balance out so the electron will not make the orbital unbalanced.

[Sean Sanders 1E]

I believe an electron's spin refers to the direction in which it rotates around its axis. Spinning up means it is rotating clock-wise while spinning down means the electron is rotating counter-clockwise

[Jahnavi Srinivas 2H]

The angular momentum of electrons cause them to spin. When an electron spins up, it is shown by positive 1/2. If an electron is spinning down, then it is shown by negative 1/2. Looking at these quantum numbers can help you determine the direction in which an electron spins.

[Gavin Trent 2F]

Electrons cannot occupy exactly the same space as another electron, instead they "spin" in opposite directions when paired. The spin itself refers to the angular momentum of an electron as it moves around its axis.