<P> Orbitals are given names are usually given in the form: </P> <Dl> <Dd> X t y p e y (\ displaystyle X \, \ mathrm (type) ^ (y) \) </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> X t y p e y (\ displaystyle X \, \ mathrm (type) ^ (y) \) </Dd> <P> where X is the energy level corresponding to the principal quantum number n, type is a lower - case letter denoting the shape or subshell of the orbital and it corresponds to the angular quantum number l, and y is the number of electrons in that orbital . </P>

The shape of an atomic orbital is associated with