Question

What is the importance of the particle-wave duality of the electron, in particular as it pertains to its wave properties?

What is an orbital?

Answer 1

wave-particle duality is of perticular importance in case of microscopic particles like electron. For example, for a electrons which circulates around the nucleus, it is better to describe the region where the probability of finding the electron will be greatest. In such description electrons are considered as having a wave nature. On the contrary if you consider electron as particle, then you can draw a circle around the nucleus which exactly represents its path. this is called a orbit.

The region around the nucleus where electron has highest probability of residing is called orbital .