The fourth electron shell, also known as the M shell, can hold a maximum of 32 electrons. The formula to determine the maximum number of electrons in a given shell is given by the equation 2n², where n represents the shell level.
For the fourth shell, when we plug in the value:
- n = 4
- Maximum Electrons = 2(4)² = 2(16) = 32
This means that in total, the fourth shell can accommodate 32 electrons. However, it’s important to note that not all elements utilize all the available electrons in their fourth shell due to the unique arrangements of electrons, which follow the rules of electron configuration based on energy levels and stability.