From where do electrons orbit a nucleus in an atom?

Electrons orbit a nucleus in an atom within the electron cloud. This concept is rooted in the quantum mechanical model of the atom, which describes electrons not as particles following defined paths, but rather as existing in distributed areas of probability around the nucleus. The electron cloud is a representation of these probabilities, where the density of the cloud indicates the likelihood of finding an electron in a particular region at a given time.

This model contrasts with older, more simplistic views where electrons were thought to move in definitive orbits. The electron cloud approach acknowledges the complex behaviors attributed to electrons based on their wave-particle duality, which is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics. Consequently, the electron cloud accurately depicts the location and movement of electrons relative to the nucleus.