Which statement is true about electrons in atoms?

The statement regarding electrons in outer orbits being attracted less powerfully to the nucleus is correct because of the nature of electrostatic forces and electron configuration within an atom. As electrons occupy higher energy levels, orbits that are further from the nucleus, the effective attraction they experience diminishes due to the increased distance from the positively charged nucleus. This is due to the inverse square law of electrostatic attraction, where the force decreases as distance increases.

Additionally, electrons farther from the nucleus also experience electron shielding effects, where inner-shell electrons partially shield the outer electrons from the full nuclear charge. As a result, outer electrons are held less tightly compared to those in inner energy levels, leading to a weaker attraction overall.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately describe the behavior of electrons in atoms.