direction of rotation

[dibalulu]

What is the direction of rotation of electron around nucleus?clockwise or anticlockwise?give reference for answer

[brachiopod]

You can't really say that an electron travels either clockwise or anticlockwise, as they are moving in three dimensions. No more than you could say the moon travels around the Earth c/w or anti-c/w.

Describing electron orbits themselves is an extremely involved process.

Put simply, this is because electrons are arranged in levels and sub-levels, and have different orbits depending on which type of sub-level the electron is in. The 'shape' of these orbitals is given by the probability of finding an electron in a given place, rather than somehow 'observing the electron' and its 'path' as it travels around the nucleus. Add into this the fact that any paired electrons in a given orbital have opposing spins and you have the makings of an extremely involved answer to your question !!

[bernardo]

The Moon goes around the Earth anti-clockwise as viewed from above the North pole.  As brachiopod said, an electron going round a nucleus is more like a fuzzy blurry bundle of energy rather than a lumpy ping-pong ball.

[brachiopod]

... or clockwise as viewed from the South Pole. That was the point, bernardo, it can't be stated without qualifying the viewpoint first. What about from the equator?

You make electrons sound really cute with your "fuzzy blurry bundle of energy". Arrrr, want one! want one! ;o)

[Ray The Grey]

Electrons are particles and do not really rotatea round a nucleus. The attraction of the nucleus means that there is simply a probability of the electron being in a certain place in a certain time and they move in and out through the "shells" as well as around. For a simple answer though (should an electron follow an orbital path) - Which side are you observing the atom from? If you say it is moving clockwise - go and look at it from the other side.

[Marsh]

Either.  If you have two electrons in a shell you can have one of each.  I don't know this with any degree of background - I am just quoting from a quick read of references found by typing "clockwise electrons" into a search engine.  One reference is http://www.css.edu/USERS/lmcgahey/web/CHM102/Objectives/Objec1-6.html  You maybe could find a better one.

[magicdice]

it doesn't rotate - quantum physics etc, you never know exactly where an electron's going to be.

but you have up & down ones to denote direction of spin. though if you look at a transparent clock from the other side, the hands move anticlockwise, so i guess clockwise means nothing but a convention