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Going beyond what the note covers, this statement refers to the difference between the theoretical number of sublevels possible in quantum mechanics and the actual sublevels occupied by ground-state electrons in known elements.

  1. Theoretical Sublevels (nn values):
    In quantum mechanics, the principal quantum number nn defines a main energy level. Each energy level theoretically contains nn sublevels:

  • Level n=1n = 1 has 11 sublevel: ss

  • Level n=2n = 2 has 22 sublevels: s,ps, p

  • Level n=3n = 3 has 33 sublevels: s,p,ds, p, d

  • Level n=4n = 4 has 44 sublevels: s,p,d,fs, p, d, f

  • Level n=5n = 5 has 55 sublevels: s,p,d,f,gs, p, d, f, g

  • Level n=6n = 6 has 66 sublevels: s,p,d,f,g,hs, p, d, f, g, h

  • Level n=7n = 7 has 77 sublevels: s,p,d,f,g,h,is, p, d, f, g, h, i

  1. Why Only s,p,d,fs, p, d, f Are Used:
    Across all 118118 known elements in the periodic table (up to Oganesson, Z=118Z = 118), electrons in their ground state fill available sublevels according to the Aufbau principle (from lowest energy to highest). The heaviest known element, Oganesson, completes the filling of the 7p7p sublevel (7p67p^6).

Even though higher shells like n=5n = 5, n=6n = 6, and n=7n = 7 mathematically possess room for additional sublevels (gg, $$h$