◆ Electrons are in orbit around the central nucleus of the atom.
◆ The electron orbits are called shells (or energy levels) and have different energies.
◆ Shells which are further from the nucleus have higher energies.
◆ The shells are filled starting with the one with lowest energy (closest to the nucleus).
◆ The first shell can hold only 2 electrons.
◆ The second and subsequent shells can hold 8 electrons to give a stable (noble gas) arrangement of electrons.