Answer
The maximum number of electrons that can occupy subshell $4f$ is 14.
Work Step by Step
*NOTES TO REMEMBER:
- The maximum number of electrons which can occupy an orbital is 2.
- The number of orbitals in a subshell depends on the type of subshells:
+) Subshell $s$: $l=0$, so $m_l=0$. Therefore, 1 orbital.
+) Subshell $p$: $l=1$, so $m_l=-1,0,1$. Therefore, 3 orbitals.
+) Subshell $d$: $l=2$, so $m_l=-2,-1,0,1,2$. Therefore, 5 orbitals.
+) Subshell $f$: $l=3$, so $m_l=-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3$. Therefore, 7 orbitals.
Subshell $4f$ has 7 orbitals. Each orbital can occupy a maximum number of 2 electrons.
Therefore, the maximum number of electrons that can occupy subshell $4f$ is 14.
