How many electron orbital shells does chlorine have?

Answer 1

Your question reveals a common confusion between orbitals and shells.

Chlorine has three electron shells: the first, second and third.

The first shell has just the one orbital, the 1s

The second shell has two sub-shells, the 2s and the 2p. There are three p orbitals in the 2p sub-shell. Each orbital can hold two electrons, so there are eight electrons maximum in the second shell.

The third shell likewise has two sub-shells, the 3s and the 3p, but the 3p is not completely filled, leaving room for one more electron. When chlorine gains this electron it will become a Cl- ion.

This is summed up in the electron configuration

1s22s22p63s23p5.

Answer 2

Chlorine has three electron orbital shells. The electron configuration for chlorine is 2-8-7, indicating that it has 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 electrons in the second shell, and 7 electrons in the third shell.