2, 8, 1 The electronic structure of sodium can also be shown in a diagram. Each dot represents an electron. Since the atomic number of oxygen is 8, it will have 8 protons in the nucleus.

Photo: Niels Bohr's research notes for his new atomic theory Rutherford's find came ... of electrons -- the first shell holds no more than 2, the second shell up to 8, the third 10, the fourth ...