How many electrons can an f subshell hold at most?

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Multiple Choice

How many electrons can an f subshell hold at most?

Explanation:
The number of electrons a subshell can hold comes from how many orbitals it contains and the two possible spin states each orbital can accommodate. The f subshell has l = 3, so there are 2l + 1 = 7 distinct orbitals. Each orbital can hold 2 electrons (one with spin up, one with spin down), giving 7 × 2 = 14 electrons in total. This fits the pattern that a subshell holds 2(2l + 1) electrons: s holds 2, p holds 6, d holds 10, and f holds 14.

The number of electrons a subshell can hold comes from how many orbitals it contains and the two possible spin states each orbital can accommodate. The f subshell has l = 3, so there are 2l + 1 = 7 distinct orbitals. Each orbital can hold 2 electrons (one with spin up, one with spin down), giving 7 × 2 = 14 electrons in total. This fits the pattern that a subshell holds 2(2l + 1) electrons: s holds 2, p holds 6, d holds 10, and f holds 14.

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