Electrons in what shell of potassium have the greatest potential energy?

Question

first, second, third, or fourth

Answer 1

The most negative potential energy of an electron will be in the first shell. (out of the infinite shells)
but out of the four options u give, the fourth one will have least negative potential energy.
But we usually take modulus when talking about potential energies relating to atomic shells, as potential energy can never be positive. At maximum it can be 0 (at infinity). This is because the electron is in the 'bound system of attraction' by the nucleus and so it cant do work itself, so it has negative PE......juz like a satellite has negative PE, when orbitting a heavenly body, because it cant leave it on its own.

So, keeping this in mind, the answer could be the first one or the fourth one, the most appropriate acc to me is fourth one.

Answer 2

The highest energy electrons are those in the furthest energy level. Potassium has one electron in the 4th energy level, and that has the highest energy