def _check_orbital_name(arg: str) -> str:
    """Return arg without change if arg is a member of the 'orbital name'.

    If arg is an alias of the (more appropriate) orbital
    name, return it as is.  If arg is neither the appropriate
    orbital name nor the alias, raise ValueError.

    Parameters
    ----------
    arg: str
        the string to be checked as the orbital name

    Returns
    --------
    str

    """
    translate_dict = {
        "pypx": "pxpy",
        "pzpx": "pxpz",
        "pzpy": "pypz",
        "pxpypz": "p",
        "pxpzpy": "p",
        "pypxpz": "p",
        "pypzpx": "p",
        "pzpxpy": "p",
        "pzpypx": "p",
        "spd": "tot",
    }
    proper_orbital_name_list = [
        "s",
        "py",
        "pz",
        "px",
        "dxy",
        "dyz",
        "dz2",
        "dxz",
        "dx2",
        "tot",
    ] + ["sp", "p", "pxpy", "pxpz", "pypz", "spd", "d"]
    if arg in translate_dict.keys():
        arg = translate_dict[arg]
    if arg in proper_orbital_name_list:
        return arg
    errmsg = arg + ": (composed) orbital name was not defined."
    raise ValueError(errmsg)