Final answer:
For periods lower than the 3rd period in the periodic table, the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated is 8. This is due to the 1s and 2s orbitals holding 2 electrons each, and the 2p orbitals being able to hold 6 electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elements that are in periods lower than the 3rd period can have a maximum of 8 electrons. In the periodic table, periods refer to the horizontal rows. The first period contains only two elements, hydrogen and helium, which means it can only accommodate 2 electrons within the 1s orbital.
As we move to the second period, we start with lithium that introduces the 2s orbital, followed by beryllium. After these first two elements in the second period, the 2p orbitals begin to fill with electrons, starting with boron. The 2p orbitals can accommodate a total of 6 electrons, thus, the second period can have up to 8 electrons as well (2 in 2s and 6 in 2p).
The correct answer to the question 'Anything lower than the 3rd period can have how many electrons?' is 4) 8 electrons.