Maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in shell wit… - Solution | JEE Chemistry

MCQEasyJEE 2023Quantum Numbers

Maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in shell with $n = 4$ are:

Answer

Correct answer:B

Standard Method

Given: shell with principal quantum number $n = 4$ .

Find: the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in this shell.

For $n = 4$ , the available subshells are $4s$ , $4p$ , $4d$ , and $4f$ .

Their maximum electron capacities are:

Adding them:

2 + 6 + 10 + 14 = 32

Therefore, the maximum number of electrons is $32$ . The correct option is B.

The solution labels the option as C, but its working and final value give $32$ , which matches option B.

Counting only one subshell for $n = 4$ is incorrect because a shell contains all allowed subshells for that principal quantum number. Include $s$ , $p$ , $d$ , and $f$ subshells for $n = 4$ .
Using the wrong subshell capacities leads to an incorrect total. Remember that the maximum electrons are $2$ in $s$ , $6$ in $p$ , $10$ in $d$ , and $14$ in $f$ .
Confusing shell capacity with the number of orbitals is incorrect. First identify orbitals or subshells properly, then convert to electrons using two electrons per orbital where applicable.

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