Electrons are subatomic particles that play a fundamental role in determining the chemical behavior of atoms. They are negatively charged and are found orbiting around the nucleus of an atom. The behavior of electrons is best described by the principles of quantum mechanics.

Orbitals, on the other hand, are regions of space where electrons are most likely to be found. They are characterized by their shape, energy, and orientation. Each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins.

To better understand electrons and orbitals, let's consider the example of hydrogen. In a hydrogen atom, there is one electron that orbits around the nucleus. This electron occupies the lowest energy orbital, known as the 1s orbital. The 1s orbital is spherically shaped and has the highest probability of finding the electron near the nucleus.

Furthermore, electrons are organized into different energy levels, also known as shells. The energy levels are represented by numbers, with the lowest energy level being the closest to the nucleus. Each energy level can contain a specific number of orbitals, and the maximum number of electrons that can occupy an energy level is given by the formula 2n^2, where n represents the principal quantum number.