How many electrons are required to fill the 3p subshell?

The 3p subshell can hold a maximum of six electrons. This is determined by the shape and orientation of the p orbitals. Each p subshell contains three individual orbitals (often denoted as 3p_x, 3p_y, and 3p_z), and each orbital can accommodate two electrons, according to the Pauli exclusion principle. Therefore, when calculating the total number of electrons that can fill the 3p subshell, you multiply the number of orbitals (3) by the maximum number of electrons each can hold (2), resulting in a total capacity of six electrons.

This understanding aligns with the principles of electron configurations in atomic theory, which dictate how electrons fill sublevels within an atom. Thus, filling the 3p subshell completely requires six electrons.