3p Electron OrbitalsBy Dr. Mark J.

p electron orbitals computer model An electron orbital is a region around an atomic nucleus not seen in which one or a pair of electrons is most likely to exist The three p orbitals are made up of four lobes two large outer ones and two smaller inner ones centred on the nucleus They are part of the shell which also contains a spherical lower energy s orbital and five d orbitals at a higher energy not seen In atoms electrons fill the lower energy orbitals first The p orbitals are only filled when the lower energy s s p and s orbitals are full Hence the p orbitals are full in element Argon s s p s p