Carbon (C)
[He] 2s² 2p². 2 unpaired electrons, period 2, group 14, p block.
Element or ion
Type a symbol, a name or an atomic number, add a charge such as Fe3+ or Cl-, or tap an element in the table. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.
CCarbon, Z = 6, 12.011 u
[He] 2s2 2p2
In full: 1s² 2s² 2p²
- Blockp block
- Period2
- Group14
- Valence4
- Unpaired2
- MagneticPara
Last electron 2p
- n2shell
- l1p subshell
- m0orbital
- s+½spin up
Step by step
- Carbon has 6 electrons.
- Fill in (n + l) order: 1s² 2s² 2p².
- Write the subshells in order of n: 1s² 2s² 2p².
- Replace the helium core with [He]: [He] 2s² 2p².
Carbon (C): the numbers
| Atomic number | 6 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 12.011 u |
| Period | 2 |
| Group | 14 |
| Block | p block |
| Valence electrons | 4 |
| Unpaired electrons | 2 |
| Magnetic | paramagnetic |
| Last electron | 2p: n = 2, l = 1, m = 0, s = +1/2 |
Carbon (C): quick answers
What is the electronic configuration of carbon?
Carbon has 6 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p², or [He] 2s² 2p² in short.
How many unpaired electrons does carbon have?
Carbon has 2 unpaired electrons, so it is paramagnetic. Put one electron in each box of a subshell before pairing (Hund’s rule) to see them.
What are the quantum numbers of the last electron of carbon?
The last electron goes into 2p: n = 2, l = 1, m = 0, s = +1/2. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.