where are the electrons located in an atom

The electrons in an atom are located in electron shells or orbitals surrounding the nucleus. These shells can be thought of as layers or clouds around the nucleus where electrons are most likely to be found. Electrons do not orbit the nucleus in fixed paths like planets but exist in these shells at different energy levels with probabilities of their locations described by quantum mechanics. The closest shell to the nucleus is the lowest energy level, and shells further away have higher energy levels. Electrons fill these shells according to specific rules, and the outermost shell electrons, also called valence electrons, determine the atom's chemical properties.