An s orbital is a sphere. In two dimensions, we draw it as a circle.
A p orbital consists of two lobes of electron density on either side of the nucleus.
We usually draw p orbitals as figure eights, but we should remember p orbitals are really much fatter than in our usual drawings.
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Four of the five d orbitals consist of four lobes pointed towards the corners of a square, like a four-leaf clover. The fifth orbital looks like a p orbital with a doughnut around its middle.
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We usually draw d orbitals as skinny teardrops pointing in various directions, but we should remember that the lobes are really much fatter than in the drawing.
The seven f orbitals are even more complex shapes. The ones we see in diagrams are linear combinations of the m_l = -3 to +3 orbitals. Here is one common set of combinations.
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If you absolutely have to draw them, you can draw the shapes as below.
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- One orbital looks like a p orbital with two doughnuts around its middle.
- Two orbitals have eight lobes pointing towards the corners of a cube.
- Four orbitals have six lobes oriented in various planes (easiest to draw).
