---
title: "Carbon (C): Atomic Mass, Electron Configuration & Properties"
url: https://www.moldraw.com/elements/carbon.html
description: "Carbon (C), element 6: atomic mass 12.011, electron configuration [He] 2s² 2p², group 14, period 2, p-block reactive nonmetal. Melting and boiling point, density, electronegativity and shells."
lang: en
publisher: Scidart Academy
generated: 2026-11-03
---
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.

[Download periodic table PDF](https://www.moldraw.com/printables/periodic-table.pdf)[Open interactive periodic table](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/interactive-periodic-table.html)

## Carbon facts

| Symbol | C |
| --- | --- |
| Atomic number | 6 |
| Atomic mass | 12.011 u (g/mol) |
| Category | reactive nonmetal |
| Group | group 14 |
| Period | 2 |
| Block | p-block |
| Phase at 20 °C | Solid |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p2 |
| Noble-gas notation | [He] 2s2 2p2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 4 |
| Valence electrons | 4 |

## Bohr model and shells

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](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/electron-configuration-calculator.html).

## Physical and atomic properties

| Melting point | 4600 K (4326.9 °C) |
| --- | --- |
| Density | 1.821 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 2.55 |
| Electron affinity | 121.776 kJ/mol |
| Ionization energies | 1086.5, 2352.6, 4620.5 kJ/mol (1st, 2nd, 3rd) |
| Molar heat capacity | 8.517 J/(mol·K) |
| Discovered by | Ancient Egypt |

Use the atomic mass in the [molar mass calculator](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/molar-mass-calculator.html) for any formula containing C.

## Position in the periodic table

Tap any element to open its page.

## Molecules with carbon

- [Acetic acid](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/acetic-acid.html)
- [Acetone](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/acetone.html)
- [Acetylene](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/acetylene.html)
- [Adenine](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/adenine.html)
- [Adrenaline](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/adrenaline.html)
- [Alanine](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/alanine.html)
- [Aspirin](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/aspirin.html)
- [ATP](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/atp.html)
- [Benzene](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/benzene.html)
- [Caffeine](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/caffeine.html)
- [Carbon dioxide](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/carbon-dioxide.html)
- [Chloroform](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/chloroform.html)

Rotate each one in 3D, or draw your own structure in [MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/).

## 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](https://github.com/Bowserinator/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.