Question about electrons per shell

[nuby]

Main Question or Discussion Point

why is it the maximum electrons per shell is 2,8,18,32,50 ... Wouldn't 2,8,16,32,50 make more sense mathematically?

Are there any equations the show why this occurs?

 

[G01]

It is due, first due to the degeneracy of the energy shell (i.e. how many energy states that have that shell's energy) and also due to the pauli exclusion principle.

First, the higher energy shells have bigger degeneracies. In simple terms, there are more orbitals in the n=2 shell than there are in the n=1 energy shell. Thus, they can hold more electrons. Each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spin due to the Pauli principle. So the end result is:

n=1 Shell: 1 orbital = 2 electrons

n=2 Shell: 4 orbitals= 8 electrons

n=3 Shell: 9 orbitals= 18 electrons

The number of orbitals is determined by the number of possible angular momentum states for the electrons in the atom, which is predicted by the Schrödinger Equation. So, while your pattern may seem nicer or more aesthetic, it is not what the Schrödinger Equation predicts, so it does not make more sense mathematically in the end.

 

[nuby]

Is this possible? n=6
71.5 electrons?

 

[Danger]

Is this possible? n=6
71.5 electrons?

That might be a bit difficult; splitting an electron in half is not something that you just do with a hammer and chisel...

 

[nuby]

Lol. nevermind

 

[granpa]

nucleus

dont forget that the nucleus also has shells and subshells.