Shape of d and p orbitals

The orbitals with the value l= 1 are the p orbitals which contain a nodal plane including the nucleus hence forming a dumbbell shape. The orbitals with l= 2 are the d orbitals which have complex shapes with at least two nodal surfaces. The orbitals with l= 3 are called the f orbitals that are more complex. d orbitals are wavefunctions with ℓ = 2. They have an even more complex angular distribution than the p orbitals. For most of them it is a "clover leaf" distribution (something like 2 dumbbells in a plane). dorbitals have two angular nodes (two angles at which the probability of electron is always zero. An orbital is a wave function for an electron defined by the three quantum numbers, n, ℓ and ml. Orbitals define regions in space where you are likely to find electrons. ... p orbitals (ℓ = 1) are dumb-bell shaped. The three possible p orbitals are always perpendicular to each other.