Question

Question:How many electrons could be held in the second shell of an atom if the spin quantum numbermscould havethree values instead of just two? (Hint: Consider the Pauli exclusion principle.)

Short answer

the second shell of an atom can hold 12 electrons, If the spin quantum number m_s could have 3 values instead of just 2.

Step-by-step solution

describing the ms (spin quantum number)

m_sdescribes the direction in which the electron spins. It is called the spin quantum number. you can have two directions of spin, clockwise and anti-clockwise. And can have either a value of

determining how many electrons could be held in the second shell of an atom if the spin quantum number ms could have three values instead of two

Drawing the second shell of an atom,

3^rd direction of the spin in the given hypothetical situation has been shown in the above diagram.

Observing the diagram, we can observe that the second shell of an atom can hold 12 electrons, If the spin quantum number m_s could have 3 values instead of just 2.