Question

Compared to the energy and charge of the electrons in the first shell of a Be atom, the electrons in the second shell of this atom have:

a. less energy and the same charge
b. less energy and a different charge
c. more energy and the same charge
d. more energy and a different charge

Answer 1

The electrons in the second shell of a Be atom have more energy and a different charge compared to the electrons in the first shell.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electrons in the second shell of a Be atom have more energy and a different charge compared to the electrons in the first shell.

The first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, while the second shell can hold up to 8 electrons. Since the second shell is further away from the nucleus, the electrostatic attraction between the electrons and the nucleus is weaker, resulting in higher energy for the electrons in the second shell. Additionally, the charge of the electrons is negative, while the charge of the nucleus (composed of protons) is positive. Therefore, the electrons in the second shell have a different charge from the electrons in the first shell.