Multiple Choice
According to the aufbau principle, which of the following sublevels is lowest in energy?
3
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
The innermost electron shell of an atom can hold up to how many electrons?
A
6
B
8
C
4
D
2
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that electron shells are organized into energy levels around the nucleus, with each shell containing one or more subshells (s, p, d, f).
The innermost shell corresponds to the first energy level (n=1), which contains only the 1s subshell.
The 1s subshell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons because each orbital can hold 2 electrons with opposite spins, and the 1s subshell has only one orbital.
Therefore, the maximum number of electrons in the innermost shell is 2.
This is consistent with the electron configuration rules and the Pauli exclusion principle.
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