In quantum mechanics, the concept of "quanta" refers to discrete units or packets of energy. Quanta are associated with the behavior of particles and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels. However, it is important to clarify that the term "quanta" itself does not have a specific numerical value or a maximum limit associated with it.
Within an atom, electrons occupy discrete energy levels or orbitals. These energy levels are quantized, meaning that electrons can only occupy certain specific energy states. Each energy level can accommodate a certain maximum number of electrons based on a set of rules known as the Pauli exclusion principle and the electron orbital filling order.
The maximum number of electrons that can occupy a specific energy level is determined by the formula 2n^2, where "n" represents the principal quantum number of the energy level. For example, the first energy level (n=1) can accommodate a maximum of 2 electrons (2 x 1^2 = 2), the second energy level (n=2) can accommodate a maximum of 8 electrons (2 x 2^2 = 8), and so on.
However, it's worth noting that the behavior of electrons in atoms is more complex than a simple allocation of electrons in energy levels. The interaction of electrons with each other and the electric field of the nucleus leads to the formation of different types of orbitals and subshells, each with their own capacity for electron occupancy. The specific electron configuration of an atom depends on factors such as its atomic number and the rules of quantum mechanics.
Therefore, while the number of quanta, in terms of energy levels and electron occupancy, is quantized in an atom, there is no strict maximum limit to the number of quanta that can be associated with an atom.