Question

The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the outermost orbit is ___ .

Answer 1

The maximum number of electrons present in a shell is given by the formula $2n^2$, where ‘n’ is the orbit number or energy level index, 1,2,3,….
Hence the maximum number of electrons in different shells are as follows:

• first orbit or K-shell will be = 2 × 12 = 2,
• second orbit or L-shell will be = 2 × 22 = 8,
• third orbit or M-shell will be = 2 × 32 = 18,
• fourth orbit or N-shell will be = 2 × 42= 32, and so on.

The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the outermost orbit is 8.