How to use the electron capacity of shells calculator
Find the maximum electrons in a shell and subshell count. Enter principal quantum number n in the field above; the max electrons in shell, orbitals in shell, subshells are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- n — Principal quantum number n
Worked example
With principal quantum number n = 3, the calculator gives max electrons in shell ≈ 18; orbitals in shell ≈ 9; subshells ≈ 3.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the electron capacity of shells calculation?
Max electrons in shell = 2 × n × n. Orbitals in shell = n × n. Subshells = n. Here n is principal quantum number n.
What inputs do I need for the electron capacity of shells calculator?
You need principal quantum number n. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.