In a redox reaction, which particles are lost and gained in equal numbers

if two electrons have the same n, the same ℓ, and the same ml, then they are in the same orbital. the pauli exclusion principle states that no two identical fermions (a fancy word for electrons and other subatomic particles like electrons) may occupy the same quantum state in an atom simultaneously.

the number of valence electrons for each molecule or ion is shown beneath the structure. remember hydrogen will not have more than two electrons. this hydrogen is part of a covalent bond (sharing two electrons). a double bond here would cause hydrogen to share four electrons with phosphorus.