Why can higher energy levels accommodate more electrons?

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Why can higher energy levels accommodate more electrons?

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Answer 1 · 2015-06-10T10:18:04

Because higher energy levels contain more orbitals.

Explanation:

As you know, the maximum number of electrons that a shell can hold is given by the formula

$no. electrons = 2 n^{2}$ $"no. electrons" = 2n^(2)$ , where

$n$ $n$ - the energy level.

Electrons that surround a nucleus can be found in orbitals, with each orbital having a maximum capacity of 2 electrons. You can determine the number of orbitals an energy level has by using this formula

$no. orbitals = \frac{2 n^{2}}{2} = n^{2}$ $"no. orbitals" = (2n^(2))/2 = n^2$

This tells you that higher energy levels have more orbitals available for electrons to occupy. The first energy level only has 1 orbital, so its capacity is limited to 2 electrons.

The second energy level has a total of $2^{2} = 4$ $2^2 = 4$ orbitals ,so it can hold up to 8 electrons.

The third energy level has a total of $3^{2} = 9$ $3^2=9$ orbitals, so its capacity is 18 electrons.

The fourth energy level has a total of $4^{2} = 16$ $4^2 = 16$ orbitals, so its capacity is 32 electrons.

So, as a conclusion, higher energy levels can support more orbitals, which in turn means that they can hold more electrons.

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Why can higher energy levels accommodate more electrons?

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