The characteristics of each quantum number are depicted in different areas of this diagram. References Chang, Raymond. The six columns on the right represent the filling of the three orbitals in a p subshell. The fifth electron therefore goes into one of these orbitals. Learning Activity. Exceptions to Predicted Electron Configurations. By definition, orbitals are degenerate when they have the same energy. The sets of orbitals with the same n value are often referred to as an electron shell.