What is the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the M shell of an atom?

What is the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the M shell of an atom? Correct Answer 18

The correct answer is 18.

Key Points

• The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the M shell of an atom is 18.
  • The shell corresponds to the principal quantum numbers. 
  • For the M shell principle, the quantum number is 3. 
  • So, the maximum number of electrons present in the M shell is 18.
  • The shell number is expressed by the formula 2n², where n is the number of shells. 
  • The shells, values of n, and the total number of electrons can be accommodated.

Additional Information

• Each subshell is constrained to hold 4ℓ + 2 electrons at most, namely:
  • Each s subshell holds at most 2 electrons
  • Each p subshell holds at most 6 electrons
  • Each d subshell holds at most 10 electrons
  • Each f subshell holds at most 14 electrons
  • Each g subshell holds at most 18 electrons