Question

in its outermost shell a metal cannot have how many electrons

Answer 1

it cannot have full electrons i.e 8 or 2 it has more electrons bcoz it has tendency to lose electrons

Answer 2

Metals usually have 1, 2, or 3 electrons in their outermost shell. Nonmetals have 5, 6, or 7 electrons in their outer shell. Atoms with outer shells that are only partially filled are unstable. To become stable, the metal atom wants to get rid of one or more electrons in its outer shell.