Animation of the structure of one of the three 2p atomic orbitals. Orbitals contain an atom磗 electrons, which are found around the central atomic nucleus not seen. Each orbital can hold two electrons. The 2p orbital is one of three bi_lobed orbitals arranged perpendicularly to one another. 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. P orbitals are bi_lobed, and comprise lobes of opposite phase.