Final answer:
Each f orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons. However, since there are seven f orbitals in a f sublevel, the entire f sublevel can accommodate up to 14 electrons in total.
Step-by-step explanation:
In quantum chemistry, the distribution of electrons in an atom is governed by specific rules. One such rule states that each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons. When considering an f orbital, it is part of a sublevel that consists of multiple orbitals. According to the rules for electron configuration, an s sublevel holds two electrons, a p sublevel holds six, a d sublevel can accommodate ten, and an f sublevel can hold a total of 14 electrons. This is because an f sublevel contains seven orbitals and, with two electrons per orbital, this results in 14 electrons.
Thus, the answer to the student's question is that an f orbital is permitted to have 2 electrons, but the entire f sublevel, which contains multiple f orbitals, can hold a total of 14 electrons. To clarify, while each individual f orbital can hold two electrons, the f sublevel, with its seven orbitals, can accommodate 14 electrons in total.