Orbitals: Some Fiction and Some Facts

The use of electron orbitals in quantum theory and chemistry is discussed. Common misconceptions are highlighted. Suggestions are made how chemistry educators may describe orbitals in the first and second year college curriculum more accurately without introducing unwanted technicalities. A comparison is made of different ways of graphically representing orbitals. The connection of orbital delocalization and electron delocalization is explained by using graphical representations of canonical and localized molecular orbitals for water, benzene, and linear hexatriene.