How many electrons are in the 3rd shell?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking about the number of electrons that can occupy the third shell of an atom, which is a fundamental concept in atomic structure and electron configuration.

More Information

The third shell can hold up to 18 electrons in total: 2 in the 3s subshell, 6 in the three 3p orbitals, and 10 in the five 3d orbitals.

Tips

Make sure to distinguish between the number of electrons that fit in a shell versus the more stable configurations that sometimes get followed during chemical reactions and bonding.

Sources

• The web page with info on - Example Source - lwtech.edu
• Why are there 18 electrons in the third shell? - BYJU'S - byjus.com
• Does the 3rd electron shell have a capacity for 8e- or 18e-? - Socratic - socratic.org