What Are Energy Levels?

Energy levels (also called electron shells) are fixed distances from the nucleus of an atom where
electrons may be found.

WHAT ARE ELECTRONS?? Electrons are negatively charged particles in an atom that move
around the nucleus. Energy levels are a little like the steps of a staircase. You can stand on one
step or another but not in between the steps. The same goes for electrons. They can occupy one
energy level or another but not the space between energy levels.

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Electrons in energy level I (also called energy level K) have the least amount of energy. As you
go farther from the nucleus, electrons at higher levels have more energy, and their energy
increases by a fixed, discrete amount. Electrons can jump from a lower to the next higher energy
level if they absorb this amount of energy. Conversely, if electrons jump from a higher to a lower
energy level, they give off energy, often in the form of light.

 Electrons are always added to the lowest energy level first until it has the maximum
number of electrons possible. Then electrons are added to the next higher energy level
until that level is full, and so on.
 They can’t move freely at any random position.
 Their revolution is restricted in particular orbits according to their energy levels.
 An electron can move in one energy level or to another energy level, but it can not stay in
between two energy levels.

The electrons from energy level K (the closest to the nucleus) contains the least energy whereas
the levels that are far from the nucleus contains more energy Electrons in the outermost energy
level are also called Valence electrons. Various properties of atoms are based on these valence
electrons.
Use the atomic number and atomic mass to find the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons. In the
box, draw the atom with the right amount of electrons in the proper energy level.

My atomic number is 20
And my atomic mass is 40

My atomic number is 16
And my atomic mass is 32

My atomic number is 13
And my atomic mass is 27

My atomic number is 18
My atomic mass is 40