How many electrons can a P orbital hold?

A P orbital can hold a maximum of 6 electrons. This is due to the fact that a P subshell consists of three individual P orbitals (often referred to as px, py, and pz orbitals). Each of these orbitals can accommodate a maximum of 2 electrons, which means that collectively, the three P orbitals can hold a total of 2 electrons multiplied by 3 orbitals, resulting in 6 electrons.

The P orbitals are shaped in a dumbbell configuration and are organized with different orientations in space, allowing them to hold the paired electrons while adhering to the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously. This enables the P subshell to effectively hold 6 electrons when fully filled.