Chapter 3.6, Problem 2QQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The number of electrons that can be accommodated in an electron shell to the maximum has to be chosen from the given options.

Concept Introduction:

Electrons are present outside the nucleus of an atom.  These electrons are restricted to some specific regions around the nucleus of an atom.  Electrons do move rapidly in the space about the nucleus is divided into subspaces that are known as shells, subshells and orbitals.

Electron shells are the space region that is present around the nucleus and this contains electrons that possess approximately same energy and which spend most of their time in the same distance from nucleus.  Electron shells are numbered as 1, 2, 3, and so on.  The energy of electron increases as the distance between the nucleus and electron shell increases.  Electron shell can accommodate electrons and it varies because higher the electron shell number, more is the number of electrons that can be present in it.

Electron subshell is the space region in the electron shell which contains the electrons that have same energy.  The number of electron subshell present for each electron shell depends upon the shell number.