B) 14 is the appropriate choice.
We must ascertain the electron configuration of an element with an atomic number of 26 in order to calculate the number of electrons in its M-shell.
Iron (Fe) is the element with atomic number 26. Iron’s electron configuration is:
3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d⁶ 1s² 2s² 2p⁶
All of the lower energy levels (shells) will be filled before the M-shell in the ground state. Consequently, the third shell (n=3) is represented by the M-shell. The 3s, 3p, and 3d subshells make up the M-shell.
A maximum of two electrons can be contained in the 3s subshell, six electrons in the 3p subshell, and ten electrons in the 3d subshell.
B) 14 is the appropriate choice.
We must ascertain the electron configuration of an element with an atomic number of 26 in order to calculate the number of electrons in its M-shell.
Iron (Fe) is the element with atomic number 26. Iron’s electron configuration is:
3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d⁶ 1s² 2s² 2p⁶
All of the lower energy levels (shells) will be filled before the M-shell in the ground state. Consequently, the third shell (n=3) is represented by the M-shell. The 3s, 3p, and 3d subshells make up the M-shell.
A maximum of two electrons can be contained in the 3s subshell, six electrons in the 3p subshell, and ten electrons in the 3d subshell.