[Campbell Biology P.83] According to the text, which of the following statements about elec... | Practice Question

According to the text, which of the following statements about electron energy levels and movement is true?

  • A: Electrons in the first shell have the highest potential energy.
  • B: When an electron loses energy, it moves to a shell farther from the nucleus.
  • C: An electron absorbing energy will transition to a shell closer to the nucleus.
  • D: Electrons in shells farther from the nucleus generally possess higher potential energy.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'The first shell is closest to the nucleus, and electrons in this shell have the lowest potential energy. Electrons in the second shell have more energy, and electrons in the third shell even more energy.' This indicates that potential energy increases with distance from the nucleus.