Question

this isn't a brainteaser, just a simple question. does filling up the sub shells of a atom (the ones in between the electron shells) use electrons, you see i am trying to figure out how to draw atoms and the electron configuration can appear to be random

Answer 1

i am also aware of the s,d,p

Answer 2

s orbital can fill up to 2 electrons, p orbital can fill up to 6 electrons, d orbital can fill up to 8 or 18 electrons, f orbital can fill up to 14 electrons.
Almost every element fills up their orbitals in this order,
\[1s^22s^22p^63s^23p^63d^{10}\]
Look at them like this
\[[1s^2][2s^22p^6][3s^23p^63d^{10}]\]
The orbital shells are in the brackets.
Always start with 's', then, 'p', then 'd' for each new orbital
The exponent number is the number of electrons.
I can give further details if you want, there's more to explain.

Answer 3

Nova tells me that electrons will never exist inbetween electron shells. When an electron moves from one shell to another, there is a quantum leap - it does not pass thru the inbetween "space".

Answer 4

That's some additional details, Niels Bohr who in 1913 postulated that electrons move around the nucleus in well-defined orbits which are distinctly separated from each other, electron cannot exist in between these allowed orbits. It can jump from one orbit to another, but it cannot exist in between the orbits. Electrons are in discrete orbits.