Here's why:
* Subshells and Orbitals: Each electron shell (like the first shell, second shell, etc.) is divided into subshells. These subshells are designated by letters: s, p, d, and f.
* Number of Orbitals: Each subshell contains a specific number of orbitals:
* s subshell: 1 orbital
* p subshell: 3 orbitals
* d subshell: 5 orbitals
* f subshell: 7 orbitals
* Electrons per Orbital: Each orbital can hold a maximum of 2 electrons.
Therefore, the 4f subshell, with 7 orbitals, can hold a maximum of 7 orbitals * 2 electrons/orbital = 14 electrons.