Electrons and Bonding

• The nuclear atom contains electrons in shells surrounding the nucleus
• n=1?

  2
• n=2?

  8
• n=3?

  18
• n=4?

  32
• shells are regarded as energy levels. The energy increases as the shell number increases.
• The shell number or energy level number is called the principal quantum number, n
• Shells are made up of atomic orbitals
• An atomic orbital is a region around the nucleus that can hold up to 2 electrons, with opposite spins