Question

A model of an animal shows eight electrons and rings that represent different energy levels. How many electrons are in each energy level?

Answer 1

In a model of an atom, electrons are arranged in energy levels or shells around the nucleus. The distribution of electrons among these levels follows certain rules, primarily defined by the principal quantum number \( n \), which indicates the energy level.

Here’s how the electrons fill the energy levels:

1. **First energy level (n=1)**: Can hold up to 2 electrons.
2. **Second energy level (n=2)**: Can hold up to 8 electrons.
3. **Third energy level (n=3)**: Can hold up to 18 electrons.
4. **Fourth energy level (n=4)**: Can hold up to 32 electrons.

Given that we have 8 electrons, they would fill the energy levels as follows:

- The first energy level (n=1) will hold 2 electrons.
- The second energy level (n=2) will hold the remaining 6 electrons (since 8 - 2 = 6).

Thus, the distribution of electrons in each energy level will be:

- **First energy level (n=1)**: 2 electrons
- **Second energy level (n=2)**: 6 electrons

So, to summarize, with 8 electrons in total:
- Energy level 1: 2 electrons
- Energy level 2: 6 electrons

This distribution aligns with the electron configuration for an atom with 8 electrons, which corresponds to the element oxygen.