Degenerate Orbitals
Degenerate orbitals are those with the same energy. These orbitals are distinct (they may be oriented differently in space around the atomic nucleus), yet they have the same energy. In the presence of an external field, the degeneracy of the p orbital is unaffected; however, the degeneracy of the f and d orbitals can be broken by applying an external field to the system (either electric or magnetic field).
Few orbitals will have higher energy, while others will have lower energy. Degeneracy will no longer exist in the system. For example, d orbitals are made up of five degenerated orbitals that all have the same energy.
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Shapes of Atomic Orbitals
Atomic orbitals, which are mathematical functions, describe the wave behavior of electrons (or electron pairs) in an atom. Atomic orbitals have different shapes according to their type. The different shapes of atomic orbitals describe that there is either the highest or zero probability of finding an electron around the nucleus in some directions. There are four types of orbitals, each with a different shape and represented by the letters s, p, d, and f. The s and p orbitals are taken into account because they are the most abundant in chemical and biological chemistry. An s-orbital has a spherical nucleus in the center, a p-orbital is dumbbell-shaped, and four of the five d orbitals are cloverleaf shaped. The fifth d orbital is fashioned like a long dumbbell with a doughnut in the center. The orbitals of an atom are organized into layers or electron shells.