Carbon (C)
Diamond and graphite are both pure carbon — only the way the atoms are bonded differs.
Carbon properties
- Atomic mass
- 12.011 u
- Category
- Reactive nonmetal
- Group
- 14
- Period
- 2
- Block
- p-block
- State at room temp.
- Solid
- Electronegativity
- 2.55
- Melting point
- 3,823 K (3,549.8 °C)
- Boiling point
- 4,098 K (3,824.8 °C)
- Density
- 2.267 g/cm³
- Common charges
- +4, −4
- Oxidation states
- +4, +2, −4
- Atomic radius
- 170 pm
- Ionization energy
- 11.26 eV
- Electron affinity
- 1.263 eV
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- Ancient
Carbon electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [He] 2s2 2p2
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p2
- Electron shells
- 2 · 4
The electron configuration of Carbon (C) is [He] 2s2 2p2. Its 6 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 4.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Carbon
A neutral Carbon atom has 6 protons and 6 electrons. Most Carbon atoms have about 6 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 12, minus the atomic number 6.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Carbon have?
4
Carbon has 4 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 2. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
Carbon orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Carbon
12.011 g/mol
One mole of Carbon atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 12.011 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Compounds containing Carbon
Carbon facts
- Diamond and graphite are both pure carbon — only the way the atoms are bonded differs.
- Every known form of life is built on carbon chemistry.
- Carbon (C) has atomic number 6 and is a solid at room temperature. It has been known since ancient times.
Position in the periodic table
Carbon is element 6, in period 2 and group 14 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
Uses of Carbon
Carbon in the form of coke is used to extract iron from its ore, and adding a little carbon to iron makes steel. Graphite goes into pencils, lubricants and the anodes of lithium-ion batteries, while activated carbon filters water and air. Carbon fiber makes light, strong parts for bicycles and aircraft, carbon black strengthens car tires, and industrial diamonds tip cutting and drilling tools.
Who discovered Carbon?
Carbon has been known since ancient times in the form of charcoal and soot. Antoine Lavoisier listed it as a chemical element in 1789, and in 1797 Smithson Tennant showed that diamond is made of pure carbon.
Where does the name come from?
Carbon comes from the Latin carbo, meaning 'charcoal' or 'coal', the form of the element people knew best. French chemists, including Antoine Lavoisier, introduced the name carbone in 1787.
Same group
Compare Carbon
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Carbon?
The electron configuration of Carbon (C) is [He] 2s2 2p2. Its 6 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 4.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Carbon have?
A neutral Carbon atom has 6 protons and 6 electrons. Most Carbon atoms have about 6 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 12, minus the atomic number 6.
How many valence electrons does Carbon have?
Carbon has 4 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 2. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
What is the molar mass of Carbon?
The molar mass of Carbon is 12.011 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 12.011 u.
Is Carbon a metal?
No. Carbon is a reactive nonmetal, so it is a nonmetal.
Is Carbon radioactive?
Ordinary Carbon is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Carbon on the periodic table?
Carbon is element 6, in period 2 and group 14 of the periodic table, in the p-block.