Multiple Choice
How many electron shells are present in a neutral rubidium (Rb) atom?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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In the context of electron configuration, what is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy the third shell (n = 3) of an atom?
A
10
B
18
C
8
D
32
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the principal quantum number \( n \) defines the shell or energy level of an electron in an atom. For \( n = 3 \), we are looking at the third shell.
Understand that each shell contains one or more subshells, and the number of subshells in a shell is equal to \( n \). So, for \( n = 3 \), the subshells are \( 3s \), \( 3p \), and \( 3d \).
Determine the maximum number of electrons each subshell can hold: \( s \) subshell holds 2 electrons, \( p \) subshell holds 6 electrons, and \( d \) subshell holds 10 electrons.
Add the maximum electrons from all subshells in the third shell: \( 2 \) (from \( 3s \)) + \( 6 \) (from \( 3p \)) + \( 10 \) (from \( 3d \)) to find the total maximum electrons in the third shell.
Sum these values to find the maximum number of electrons that can occupy the third shell (\( n = 3 \)) of an atom.
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