The concept you are describing seems to be based on a simplified and outdated model of the atom known as the Bohr model. In the Bohr model, electrons are depicted as orbiting the nucleus in well-defined circular paths called orbits. However, this model is not an accurate representation of electron behavior according to quantum mechanics, which provides a more sophisticated understanding of atomic structure.
According to quantum mechanics, electrons do not follow classical orbits like planets around the Sun. Instead, they exist in regions around the nucleus called orbitals or electron clouds. These orbitals represent the probability distribution of finding an electron at a particular location around the nucleus.
In quantum mechanics, orbitals have different shapes, such as spheres, dumbbells, or more complex patterns. The shape and orientation of an orbital describe the electron's energy and angular momentum. The specific orientation of an orbital is represented by quantum numbers, such as the azimuthal quantum number and magnetic quantum number.
In an atom, different orbitals have different orientations and spatial distributions. It is incorrect to say that one orientation exposes the nucleus while another hides it. The probability of finding an electron in a particular region of space depends on the specific orbital and its quantum numbers.
It is important to note that the behavior of electrons is inherently probabilistic in quantum mechanics. The electron cloud represents the likelihood of finding an electron in a particular region, rather than a definitive trajectory. The distribution of the electron cloud around the nucleus is determined by the quantum mechanical properties of the atom, including the energy levels and quantum numbers associated with each electron.
In summary, the idea that the orientation of an electron's orbit exposes or hides the nucleus is not an accurate representation of atomic structure according to modern physics. The behavior of electrons is better described by quantum mechanics, which considers them as existing in orbitals with probabilistic distributions.