The rules that electrons must follow when populating energy levels are governed by 4 quantum numbers. These numbers, and their relationships to each other, can be derived through the use of quantum mechanics, but that is beyond the scope of this answer. Instead, I'll list the numbers and their corresponding rules and then explicitly show why the second energy level can only have 8 electrons.
The quantum numbers are:
n, where n ≥ 1,
l, where n - 1 ≥ l ≥ 0,
ml, where l ≥ ml ≥ -l, and
ms, where ms = ±½.
n corresponds to the energy level of an atom, thus n = 2 corresponds to the second energy level.
For n = 2:
2 - 1 ≥ l ≥ 0 = 1 ≥ l ≥ 0, so l can be only 0 or 1.
For l = 0:
0 ≥ ml ≥ -0 = 0 ≥ ml ≥ 0, so ml = 0.
For l = 1:
1 ≥ ml ≥ -1, so ml can be -1, 0, or 1.
So far, then, we have 4 unique sets of quantum numbers, which I'll list below using the format n, l, ml.
2, 0, 0,
2, 1, -1,
2, 1, 0,
2, 1, 1.
The final step is to add the quantum number ms, which can be either ½ or -½, to each of those 4 sets of numbers above. This quantum number corresponds to the fact that electrons can have an intrinsic spin value of ±½. This now gives us the 8 unique sets of quantum numbers, corresponding to the 8 possible states that an electron can occupy in an atom's second energy level, that we were looking for. I'll list them below.
2, 0, 0, ½,
2, 0, 0, -½,
2, 1, -1, ½,
2, 1, -1, -½,
2, 1, 0, ½,
2, 1, 0, -½,
2, 1, 1, ½,
2, 1, 1, -½.
The second energy level of an atom can hold a maximum of 8 electrons due to the formula 2n^2, where n is the principal quantum number. This is based on the allowable quantum states within that energy level.
The maximum number of electrons in the second energy level of an atom is 8.
There are no electrons present in a helium atom in its second energy level.
An atom of carbon has 2 energy levels. The first energy level can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second energy level can hold up to 8 electrons.
First energy level can hold 2 electrons.Second energy level can hold 2 + 6 = 8 electrons. Total = 10 electrons.
valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level
There are two electrons in the second energy level of a boron atom.
If an atom has 7 electrons, then in the second energy level there would be 1 electron. The second energy level can hold a maximum of 8 electrons.
An argon atom has 2 electrons in its first energy level, 8 electrons in its second energy level, and 8 electrons in its third energy level.
The maximum number of electrons in the second energy level of an atom is 8.
In the second energy level of an atom, there can be a maximum of 8 electrons. Magnesium has 12 electrons in total, with 2 electrons in the first energy level and 8 electrons in the second energy level.
A neutral atom of magnesium has 2 electrons in its outermost energy level. Magnesium has a total of 12 electrons, with 2 electrons in the first energy level and 8 electrons in the second energy level. The outermost energy level is the second energy level in the case of magnesium.
well, on the periodic table of elements a chlorine atom has 17 electrons, usually the first level holds up to two electrons and the second level holds up to 8. so if my figuring is correct there should be fifteen electrons on the second energy level.
In a neon atom, the first energy level or orbit can hold up to 2 electrons, the second energy level can hold up to 8 electrons, and the third energy level can hold up to 8 electrons. Therefore, a neon atom would have 2 electrons in the first energy level, 8 electrons in the second energy level, and 8 electrons in the third energy level, totaling 18 electrons.
A neutral sulfur atom has 6 electrons in its outermost energy level. Sulfur has 16 electrons, with 2 electrons in the first energy level, 8 electrons in the second energy level, and 6 electrons in the third and outermost energy level.
There are no electrons present in a helium atom in its second energy level.
The second energy level of an atom of fluorine will have 7 electrons. This is because the first energy level can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, and the second energy level can hold a maximum of 8 electrons. Since fluorine has a total of 9 electrons, 2 of them will be in the first energy level and 7 will be in the second energy level.
The carbon atom's second energy level can hold a maximum of 8 electrons. Carbon has 6 electrons, so the percentage of the second energy level that is filled is 6/8 = 75%.