Question

1. how many electrons does aluminum have in the first energy level?

Explanation:

Step1: Recall electron energy level rules

The first energy level (n = 1) can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, and this is a fundamental rule of electron configuration (the Pauli exclusion principle and electron shell filling order). For any atom, the first energy level is filled before subsequent levels.

Step2: Determine Aluminum's electron configuration basics

Aluminum has an atomic number of 13, meaning it has 13 electrons. The electron configuration starts with filling the first energy level. The first energy level (n = 1) can only hold 2 electrons (as per the formula \(2n^{2}\), for n = 1, \(2(1)^{2}=2\)). So regardless of the atom (as long as it has at least 2 electrons, which Aluminum does), the first energy level will have 2 electrons.

Answer:

2