Which statement accurately describes the first and second electron shells according to the material?

• A. The first shell holds 2 electrons; the second shell holds 8 electrons
• B. The first shell holds 8 electrons; the second shell holds 2 electrons
• C. The first shell holds 1 electron; the second shell holds 6 electrons
• D. The first shell holds 4 electrons; the second shell holds 10 electrons

Answer: (A)

Electron shells have maximum capacities given by 2n^2, where n is the shell number. For the first shell (n=1) that yields 2 electrons, and for the second shell (n=2) it yields 8 electrons. So the correct description is that the first shell holds up to two electrons and the second shell up to eight. The other options don’t fit this rule—one suggests eight in the first shell or other numbers that don’t match the 2n^2 capacities.