General chemistry: what is the maximum number of electrons that can be present in the n=3 shell

Question

a. 6

b. 9

c. 12

d. 18

can someone explain this to me...?

Answer 1

maussy is correct. If you want to know a formula for it, the maximum number of electrons that can have the principal quantum number n is given by 2n² so for this it's 2*3²=18.  

Answer 2

answer d is correct

with 3s2 3p6 3d10

meaning 2 electros in subshell 3s , 6 in 3p , 10 in 3d

Answer 3

n=3 shell is the transition metal group, the correct number is 18.

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6,4d2,3d10... etc

3s2   =2

3p6   =6

3d10=10

         18

if you count up the electrons from the n=3 sub orbitals it equals 18.

  

Answer 4

the maximum number is 18 and it could be explained using the atomic orbitals. The 3rd shell can be consisted of 3s(2e), 3p(6e) and 3d(10e) orbitals. The 3 refers to the shell and s, p, d are orbitals. The number in the parenthesis is the maximum number of the electrons that can be in each orbital.

The confusing part would be that when filling those orbitals you put first 2 electrons in the 3s, 6e in the 3p, but because the next shell has an orbital with lower energy than the 3d you first put 2e in the 4th shell and then the rest 10 in the 3rd.

Answer 5

We know that 3rd shell has s,p , d orbitals. And since there can be 2 electrons in the s orbital, 6 in the p orbital, and 10 in the d orbital, so the 3rd shell can have a maximum of 18.

For simplicity, you can also take up the formula : 2n² (where n = principal quanum number / shell number). And here the shell number is 3 so, answer comes 2(3)² = 18.

Hope you liked my answer, Please vote it out as best. Thanks ;)

Answer 6

d. 18

Answer 7

it's 18 because there can be 2 electrons in the s orbital, 6 in the p orbital, and 10 in the d orbital so it all adds up to a maximum of 18.

or another way to see it is that you know how the order that electrons fill orbitals is: 1s2s2p3s3p3d4s...etc, then you know that the orbitals in the n=3 shell are s,p, and d which add to a maximum of 18