Maximum number of electrons in a sub-shell of an atom is determined by the following. State maximum number of electrons in p subshell

Options

A. `2n^(2)`
B. 4l+2
C. 2l+2
D. 4l-2

Explanation

To determine the maximum number of electrons in a p subshell, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Shell and Subshell Concept**:
- An atom's electron configuration is organized into shells and subshells. Each shell can contain multiple subshells.

2. **Formula for Maximum Electrons in a Shell**:
- The maximum number of electrons in a shell is given by the formula \(2n^2\), where \(n\) is the principal quantum number (the shell number). However, this formula is not applicable for a single subshell.

3. **Determining the Value of L for the p Subshell**:
- Each subshell is characterized by a quantum number \(l\) (azimuthal quantum number). For p subshells, \(l = 1\).

4. **Calculating the Number of Orbitals in the p Subshell**:
- The number of orbitals in a subshell can be calculated using the formula \(2l + 1\).
- For \(l = 1\) (p subshell), the number of orbitals is:
\[ 2(1) + 1 = 3 \]

5. **Calculating the Maximum Number of Electrons**:
- Each orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons (due to the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons can have the same set of quantum numbers).
- Therefore, the maximum number of electrons in the p subshell is:
\[ 3 \text{ orbitals} \times 2 \text{ electrons/orbital} = 6 \text{ electrons} \]

### Final Answer:
The maximum number of electrons in a p subshell is **6**.

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