Final answer:
In the quantum mechanical model of an atom, atomic orbitals are used to describe the location of an electron. These orbitals are mathematically derived regions of space with different probabilities of containing an electron. The electron is described in a probabilistic manner.
Step-by-step explanation:
An atomic orbital is a region in an atom where an electron is most probable to be found. In the quantum mechanical model of an atom, atomic orbitals are used to describe the location of an electron. These orbitals are mathematically derived regions of space with different probabilities of containing an electron. The electron is described in a probabilistic manner, meaning that we can only say that there is a probability that it exists within a certain volume of space. The squared magnitude of the wavefunction describes the distribution of the probability of finding the electron in a particular region in space.