Atomic Orbital Visualizer (s, p, d)
See the shapes of s, p and d orbitals and rotate them in 3D.
About the Atomic Orbital Visualizer (s, p, d)
Free atomic orbital visualizer. Explore the shapes of s, p and d orbitals with a rotatable 3D point cloud and see lobes, nodes and phase colours. Built for atomic & quantum, the atomic orbital visualizer (s, p, d) runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
See the shapes of s, p and d orbitals and rotate them in 3D. Use it to explore atomic & quantum ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the Atomic Orbital Visualizer (s, p, d)
- Use the controls to change s and p, d. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Pick an option such as s, px, py, pz to switch modes or load an example.
- Press "Auto-rotate" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Compare s, p and d.
- Rotate the dxy orbital.
- Count the lobes.
- Look for the sign change.
Key ideas you can learn
- An s orbital is a sphere, p orbitals are dumbbells, and d orbitals are mostly four-lobed clovers.
- Each orbital holds at most two electrons.
- Colours show the sign (phase) of the wave function, which matters for bonding.
Where this is used in the real world
Orbital shapes explain chemical bonding, molecular geometry and the colours of transition-metal compounds.
Who is this simulation for?
Advanced high-school and university students in chemistry and physics, and curious learners who want to see how the atomic world behaves.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is an orbital?
A region of space where an electron is likely to be found. Its shape comes from solving the quantum mechanical wave equation.
How many orbitals are in a p subshell?
Three (px, py, pz), each pointing along a different axis, so a p subshell holds up to six electrons.
Is the Atomic Orbital Visualizer (s, p, d) free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the Atomic Orbital Visualizer (s, p, d) work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.