Question

How many electrons can fit in the fourth energy level on an atom?

Answer 1

The fourth energy level of an atom can accommodate a maximum of 32 electrons, calculated with the formula 2n^2 for the fourth level (n=4), which results in 2 * 16 = 32.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fourth energy level of an atom can hold a maximum of 32 electrons. This is because the number of electrons that can fit in a given energy level is determined by the formula 2n2, where n is the principal quantum number corresponding to the energy level. For the fourth energy level (n=4), we calculate 2 * 42 = 2 * 16 = 32. Therefore, there are 32 positions for electrons in the fourth energy level, which means 32 electrons can be accommodated when this level is fully occupied.

It's important to note that energy levels are like concentric circles around the nucleus where electrons reside. The fourth energy level is the furthest out compared to the first three levels and therefore, electrons located here will have the most energy. Each orbital within these levels can hold a maximum of two electrons.

Answer 2

32 electrons
Thus, the fourth level can hold up to 32 electrons: 2 in the s orbital, 6 in the three p orbitals, 10 in the five d orbitals, and 14 in the seven f orbitals. The sublevels of the first four principal energy levels and the maximum number of electrons that the sublevels can contain are summarized in Table 5.1.