<P> Although that formula gives the maximum in principle , in fact that maximum is only achieved ( by known elements ) for the first four shells ( K , L , M , N ) . No known element has more than 32 electrons in any one shell . This is because the subshells are filled according to the Aufbau principle . The first elements to have more than 32 electrons in one shell would belong to the g - block of period 8 of the periodic table . These elements would have some electrons in their 5g subshell and thus have more than 32 electrons in the O shell ( fifth principal shell ) . </P>
<P> Although that formula gives the maximum in principle , in fact that maximum is only achieved ( by known elements ) for the first four shells ( K , L , M , N ) . No known element has more than 32 electrons in any one shell . This is because the subshells are filled according to the Aufbau principle . The first elements to have more than 32 electrons in one shell would belong to the g - block of period 8 of the periodic table . These elements would have some electrons in their 5g subshell and thus have more than 32 electrons in the O shell ( fifth principal shell ) . </P>
the maximum number of electrons that can be held in the k and l energy levels are
the maximum number of electrons that can be held in the k and l energy levels are
32
32