6C12.011

Carbon (C) – element 6

Carbon is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is a reactive nonmetal in group 14, period 2 of the periodic table (p-block), and is a solid at room temperature.

Carbon (C) has atomic number 6, atomic mass 12.011 u and electron configuration [He] 2s2 2p2.

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Carbon facts

SymbolC
Atomic number6
Atomic mass12.011 u (g/mol)
Categoryreactive nonmetal
Groupgroup 14
Period2
Blockp-block
Phase at 20 °CSolid
Electron configuration1s2 2s2 2p2
Noble-gas notation[He] 2s2 2p2
Electrons per shell2, 4
Valence electrons4

Bohr model and shells

C

Carbon has 6 electrons in 2 shells: 2, 4. Full configuration and noble-gas notation are in the table; work out any element or ion with the electron configuration calculator.

Physical and atomic properties

Melting point4600 K (4326.9 °C)
Density1.821 g/cm³
Electronegativity (Pauling)2.55
Electron affinity121.776 kJ/mol
Ionization energies1086.5, 2352.6, 4620.5 kJ/mol (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Molar heat capacity8.517 J/(mol·K)
Discovered byAncient Egypt

Use the atomic mass in the molar mass calculator for any formula containing C.

Position in the periodic table

HydrogenHHeliumHeLithiumLiBerylliumBeBoronBCarbonCNitrogenNOxygenOFluorineFNeonNeSodiumNaMagnesiumMgAluminiumAlSiliconSiPhosphorusPSulfurSChlorineClArgonArPotassiumKCalciumCaScandiumScTitaniumTiVanadiumVChromiumCrManganeseMnIronFeCobaltCoNickelNiCopperCuZincZnGalliumGaGermaniumGeArsenicAsSeleniumSeBromineBrKryptonKrRubidiumRbStrontiumSrYttriumYZirconiumZrNiobiumNbMolybdenumMoTechnetiumTcRutheniumRuRhodiumRhPalladiumPdSilverAgCadmiumCdIndiumInTinSnAntimonySbTelluriumTeIodineIXenonXeCesiumCsBariumBaLanthanumLaCeriumCePraseodymiumPrNeodymiumNdPromethiumPmSamariumSmEuropiumEuGadoliniumGdTerbiumTbDysprosiumDyHolmiumHoErbiumErThuliumTmYtterbiumYbLutetiumLuHafniumHfTantalumTaTungstenWRheniumReOsmiumOsIridiumIrPlatinumPtGoldAuMercuryHgThalliumTlLeadPbBismuthBiPoloniumPoAstatineAtRadonRnFranciumFrRadiumRaActiniumAcThoriumThProtactiniumPaUraniumUNeptuniumNpPlutoniumPuAmericiumAmCuriumCmBerkeliumBkCaliforniumCfEinsteiniumEsFermiumFmMendeleviumMdNobeliumNoLawrenciumLrRutherfordiumRfDubniumDbSeaborgiumSgBohriumBhHassiumHsMeitneriumMtDarmstadtiumDsRoentgeniumRgCoperniciumCnNihoniumNhFleroviumFlMoscoviumMcLivermoriumLvTennessineTsOganessonOg

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Molecules with carbon

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Frequently asked questions

What is the atomic mass of carbon?

The atomic mass of carbon is 12.011 u, so one mole of carbon atoms weighs 12.011 g.

What is the electron configuration of carbon?

Carbon has 6 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p², or [He] 2s² 2p² in noble-gas notation. Electrons per shell: 2, 4.

How many valence electrons does carbon have?

Carbon has 4 valence electrons (group 14).

Is carbon a metal?

No. Carbon is a nonmetal (reactive nonmetal).

Where is carbon on the periodic table?

Carbon is in group 14, period 2, in the p-block.

Data: Periodic-Table-JSON (CC BY-SA 3.0); standard atomic weights from IUPAC (abridged). Values in brackets are the mass number of the longest-lived isotope.