Animation of the structure of the 5s atomic orbital, cut in half to show the internal structure. Orbitals contain an atom磗 electrons, which are found around the central atomic nucleus not seen. Each orbital can hold two electrons. The 5s orbital is the fifth spherical s orbital out from the nucleus. Orbitals further from the nucleus are at a higher energy, and orbitals are filled from the lowest energy level one first. An atomic orbital is a mathematical model of the location of an electron around an atomic nucleus. Electrons do not orbit the nucleus as might be imagined, but instead exist as a standing wave around it. The phases of the wave are arbitrarily coloured red negative and blue positive. S orbitals are spherical, and comprise concentric shells of alternating positive and negative wave function phases.