Atomic structure
5.2.4 P orbital
The next lowest-energy orbital is thep orbital. Its shape is often described as like that
of a dumbbell. There are three p-orbitals each oriented along one of the 3-dimensional
coordinates x, y or z. Each of these three āpā orbitals can hold a maximum of two electrons.
Figure 5
These three different p orbitals can be referred to as the px, py, and pz.
Thesandporbitals are important for understanding most of organic chemistry as these
are the orbitals that are occupied in the type of atoms that are most common in organic
compounds.