Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does the carbon atom possess?
A
4
B
2
C
6
D
3
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of valence electrons: Valence electrons are the electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom. These electrons are important for determining how an atom will interact and bond with other atoms.
Identify the electron configuration of carbon: Carbon has an atomic number of 6, which means it has 6 electrons. The electron configuration of carbon is 1s² 2s² 2p².
Determine the valence shell: The valence shell is the outermost shell that contains electrons. For carbon, the valence shell is the second shell, which includes the 2s and 2p orbitals.
Count the electrons in the valence shell: In the second shell of carbon, there are 2 electrons in the 2s orbital and 2 electrons in the 2p orbital, totaling 4 valence electrons.
Conclude the number of valence electrons: Based on the electron configuration and the valence shell, carbon possesses 4 valence electrons.