How many electrons can fit in the first four shells of an atom?

The correct choice indicates the maximum number of electrons that can occupy each of the first four electron shells surrounding an atom's nucleus, which corresponds to the shell model of atomic structure. Each shell can hold a specific maximum number of electrons, which is determined by the formula (2n^2), where (n) is the principal quantum number representing the shell level.

For the first shell (n=1), the maximum number of electrons is (2(1^2) = 2). For the second shell (n=2), it is (2(2^2) = 8). For the third shell (n=3), it is (2(3^2) = 18). For the fourth shell (n=4), it is (2(4^2) = 32).

Thus, the correct sequence for the first four shells is as follows: the first shell can accommodate 2 electrons, the second shell can hold 8 electrons, the third shell can take in 18 electrons, and the fourth shell can support up to 32 electrons. This aligns perfectly with the choice indicating that the maximum number of electrons in the first four shells is 2, 8,