How the heck 8?! OBVIOUSLY 14 since the shell K will take up 2; and L will take 8- leaving 14 shells left, and since the maximum number of electrons the M shell can hold is 18; 14 electrons will be acomodated in the M shell.

**Number of Electrons in the M Shell of an Atom with Atomic Number 24**

To determine the number of electrons present in the M shell of an atom with atomic number 24, we need to understand the electron configuration and the distribution of electrons in the different energy levels or shells of an atom.

**1. Electron Configuration:**
The electron configuration of an atom describes the arrangement of electrons in its various energy levels or shells. It follows the Aufbau principle, which states that electrons occupy the lowest energy levels first before filling the higher energy levels.

**2. Atomic Number 24:**
The atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in the nucleus of its atom. In this case, the atomic number is given as 24. This corresponds to the element chromium (Cr) in the periodic table.

**3. Electron Distribution:**
The electron distribution in an atom is based on the filling of different energy levels or electron shells. The shells are labeled with letters, starting from the innermost shell (K) and progressing outward (L, M, N, etc.).

**4. Filling of Electron Shells:**
Each electron shell can hold a specific number of electrons. The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in a particular shell can be determined using the formula 2n², where 'n' represents the shell number.

**5. Determining the Number of Electrons in the M Shell:**
To find the number of electrons in the M shell, we need to determine the number of electrons present in the lower shells (K and L) and subtract it from the total number of electrons in the atom.

- The K shell can accommodate a maximum of 2 electrons (2 × 1² = 2).
- The L shell can accommodate a maximum of 8 electrons (2 × 2² = 8).

Therefore, the total number of electrons in the K and L shells is 2 + 8 = 10.

- To find the number of electrons in the M shell, we subtract the total number of electrons in the lower shells (10) from the atomic number (24).

24 - 10 = 14

Hence, there are 14 electrons present in the M shell of an atom with atomic number 24.

Please note that the electron configuration and the number of electrons in each shell can vary for different elements. This answer specifically applies to the element with atomic number 24, which is chromium (Cr).