P Orbital Shape

P Orbital

Beginning with boron, a 3D tetrahedral structure begins to form.  It is no longer planar (2D).  There are six protons in the 2p subshell (B to Ne).  This is the 3rd level of a tetrahedron.  The side view of an atomic element, based on the axis of rotation, is shown below.  The first four protons (H to Be) are now arranged as the first two layers of the tetrahedron.

Beginning with the 2p subshell, neutrons will be excluded from the view for simplicity to visualize the nucleus structure.  However, neutrons are assumed to continue to fill the spaces between protons.

Protons forming in nucleus - The p orbital has six protons to complete the third level of a tetrahedral structure

Protons forming in nucleus. The p orbital has six protons to complete the third level of a tetrahedral structure.

 

In the figure above, the dashed line is the focus for why the p orbital has a different shape than the s orbital.  The p orbital appears as a dumbbell – a spherical shape like the s orbital cut in half.  As the atomic nucleus spins, individual protons also spin.  There are two times during a rotation that three protons align – 90° and 270° (below).

Two points in the protons spin rotation have an intersection where the axial force aligns for opposite spin protons

Two points in the proton’s spin rotation have an intersection where the axial force aligns for opposite spin protons

 

Shape

The p orbital is a dumbbell shape because the electron is pushed out twice during the rotation to the 3p subshell when an opposite-spin proton aligns gluons with two same-spin protons.

Dumbbell shape of p orbital due to two points in rotation where sum of forces is not at 2p distance

Dumbbell shape of p orbital due to two points in rotation where sum of forces is not at 2p distance 

 


 

Proton Fill Order

Protons with spins aligned with the atomic nucleus’ spin will fill first as there is less energy required before a proton with opposite spin is filled in the nucleus structure.  Protons also fill from the center then outwards for geometric stability.  The figure below shows the fill order of atomic elements from boron (B) to neon (Ne) in both the side view of the nucleus and the bottom row (third row) which is being filled with protons.

Fill order of p orbital electrons (side view and bottom view shown)

Fill order of p orbital electrons (side view and bottom view shown)