Final answer:
The electron configuration model allows students to determine the total number of electrons in an atom and the electrons within each energy shell, but not the distribution of electrons within subshells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The model that allows a student to determine the total number of electrons in an atom and the electrons within each energy shell, but not the distribution of electrons within subshells is the electron configuration model.
The electron configuration indicates the arrangement of electrons in an atom's shells and subshells using the shell and subshell labels, with a superscript indicating the number of electrons in that subshell. The shells and subshells are filled in order of increasing energy.
For example, an H atom has a single electron in the 1s subshell, so its electron configuration is 1s¹. He has two electrons in the 1s subshell, so its electron configuration is 1s².