What is the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in a principal energy shell with principal quantum number n?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. 2 n^2
- Step 1: A shell with principal quantum number n contains n^2 orbitals. Step 2. By the Pauli exclusion principle, each orbital holds at most 2 electrons with opposite spins, giving a total of 2 n^2 electrons. Answer: 2 n^2. Why not the others: n^2 is the total number of orbitals; 2n + 1 is the number of orbitals in a subshell with azimuthal quantum number n; 4n + 2 is the maximum electrons in subshell with l = n.
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