The maximum number of electrons in a given atom

Question

What would be the maximum number of electrons in a given atom that can occupy each of the following: a) L shell b) 2p_y orbital c) 2d orbital d) 3d orbital?

Answer 1

a) L shell

This is the second shell corresponding to the second row in the periodic table (Li–Ne).

The second shell consists of one 2s orbital and three 2p orbitals, with capacity for 2 electrons each.

So the maximum number of electrons is 8.

b) 2p_y orbital

The maximum number of electrons is 2.

c) 2d orbital

No such thing as a 2d orbital. (So the maximum number of electrons is 0?)

d) 3d orbital

There are five 3d orbitals (with subscripted labels z², x²–y², xy, xy,and yz), with capacity for 2 electrons each.

So the maximum number of electrons is 10.