In quantum MECHANICS, an ATOMIC orbital is a mathematical function that describes the wave-like behavior of either an electron or a pair of electrons in an atom. This function can be used to calculate the probability of an atom gaining any electron in any specific REGION around the atom's nucleus. The TERM, atomic orbital, can also refer to the physical region or location where the electron, as the orbital, can be calculated to present a special mathematically defined presence. Each orbital in an atom is characterized by a unique set of three quantum numbers n, ℓ, and meter values, which correspond to the electron's energy, angular MOMENTUM, and an angular momentum vector component (magnetic quantum number), respectively. In this way each orbital with two electrons can have its own spin quantum number occupied by a maximum of each. Atomic orbitals are atomic orbital models (alternatively known as cloud electrons or wave mechanics models), in this case the basic building blocks of a modern framework for dissolving subsystematic behavior of electrons. In this model the electron cloud (in approximation) of a multi-electron atom being constructed can be seen as an electron configuration that is a product of simple hydrogen-like atomic orbitals