An ss orbital is a sphere. In two dimensions, we draw it as a circle.
A pp orbital consists of two lobes of electron density on either side of the nucleus.
We usually draw pp orbitals as figure eights, but we should remember pp orbitals are really much fatter than in our usual drawings.
Four of the five dd orbitals consist of four lobes pointed towards the corners of a square, like a four-leaf clover. The fifth orbital looks like a pp orbital with a doughnut around its middle.
We usually draw dd 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 ff orbitals are even more complex shapes. The ones we see in diagrams are linear combinations of the m_lml = -3 to +3 orbitals. Here is one common set of combinations.
If you absolutely have to draw them, you can draw the shapes as below.
- One orbital looks like a pp 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).
