Introduction to d-orbitals

The bonding in transition metal compounds and complexes involves the valence d-shell electrons.

There are five d-orbitals. These are equivalent in energy in an isolated metal ion.

Three have four lobes lying between the pairs of the x, y and z-coordinate axes that their name indicates -  d(yz), d(xz) and d(xy)

Two lie on the coordinate axes.
d(z²) with two lobes lies along the z-axis.
d(x²-y²) has four lobes, two are along the x axis and two are along the y axis.

The atomic orbitals on this page were drawn in The Atomic Orbital Viewer by David Manthey. This is available at www.orbitals.com.