Skip to content
Carbon Symbol

Carbon

Boron is the 5th Element of Periodic table with atomic number 5, atomic weight 10.811. Boron, symbol B, has a Simple Trigonal structure and Black color. Boron is a metalloid element. Trivial name of Boron is triels, icosagens. Know everything about Boron Facts, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Electronic configuration, Atomic and Crystal Structure.

Carbon

History of Carbon

The element Carbon was discovered by Ancient Egypt in year N/A in unknown place . Carbon derived its name the Latin word carbo, meaning ‘coal’

Carbon (from Latin:carbo “coal”) is a chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. On the periodic table, it is the first (row 2) of six elements in column (group) 14, which have in common the composition of their outer electron shell. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds

How to Locate Carbon on Periodic Table

Periodic table is arranged by atomic number, number of protons in the nucleus which is same as number of electrons. The atomic number increases from left to right. Periodic table starts at top left ( Atomic number 1) and ends at bottom right (atomic number 118). Therefore you can directly look for atomic number 6 to find Carbon on periodic table.

Another way to read periodic table and locate an element is by using group number (column) and period number (row). To locate Carbon on periodic table look for cross section of group 14 and period 2 in the modern periodic table.

Carbon Facts

Name
Carbon
Atomic Symbol
C
Atomic Number
6
Atomic Weight
12.0107
Phase
Solid
Colour
Black
Classification
other nonmetal
Group in Periodic Table
14
Group Name
carbon family
Period in Periodic Table
2
Block in Periodic Table
p-block
Electronic Configuration
[He] 2s2 2p2
Melting Point
3550 °C
Boiling Point
4027 °C
Electronic Shell Structure
[2 4]
CAS Number
CAS7440-44-0

Carbon Atomic Structure and Orbital Properties

Carbon atoms have 6 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 4] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) 3P0.

Properties

Atomic Structure of Carbon

Atomic Number
6
Atomic Radius
67 pm (0.67 Å)
Number of Electrons (with no charge)
6
Atomic Volume
5.31446902655 cm3
Number of Protons
6
Covalent Radius
77 pm (0.77 Å)
Mass Number
12
Van der Waals Radius
170 pm
Number of Neutrons
6
Neutron Cross Section
0.0035 σa/barns
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)
[2 4]
Electron Configuration
[He] 2s2 2p2
Valence Electrons
2s2 2p2
Oxidation State

-4;-3;-2;-1
1;2;3;4

Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)
3P0

Ground State Electronic Configuration of Carbon - neutral Carbon atom

The ground state electronic configuration of Neutral Carbon atom is [He] 2s2 2p2. The portion of Carbon configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [He]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used.This is important as it is the Valence electrons 2s2 2p2, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.

Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Carbon

Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Carbon atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration

1s2 2s2 2p2

Atomic Spectrum of Carbon

Atomic Spectrum of Carbon