Why does carbon have 6 electrons

The circles in the diagram show energy levels - representing increasing distances from the nucleus. This diagram is, however, a simplification and can be misleading. It gives the impression that the electrons are circling the nucleus in orbits like planets around the sun. Actually it is not possible to know exactly where the electrons are located see below A better way to look at the carbon atom is by using an energy level graph shown at the right.

Here we see carbon has six electrons represented by arrows the direction of the arrow represents the electron spin Two electrons are found in the 1s orbital close to the nucleus. The next two will go into the 2s orbital. The remaining ones will be in two separate 2p orbitals. This is because the p orbitals have the same energy and the electrons would rather be in separate orbitals.

The actual location of electrons in a carbon atom cannot be determined with certainty and the electrons appear to be 'smeared' into orbitals as shown below. Isotopes are atoms which have the same atomic number but different mass numbers. They have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

The number of neutrons in an atom can vary within small limits. Pure carbon is a relatively reactive element and combines directly with many chemical elements, especially those considered oxidizing agents. Carbon has a particularly strong affinity for oxygen either in the form of gaseous oxygen, or as oxygen contained in chemical combination with other elements. Its ability to combine with oxygen makes it both a powerful and useful reducing agent a substance that donates electrons resulting in reduction of the charge of the ion or atom being reduced.

The most important impact carbon has on the human race is the fact that carbon is the basic building block of life, as we know it. Every plant, animal, and everything in between that is alive is based on carbon. No form of life on the planet earth is without carbon in its structure.

That means that the carbon atom has two double bonds, one with each oxygen atom. Chem4Kids Sections. See the full list of chemistry topics at the site map! Current Page: Chem4Kids. They are paid advertisements and neither partners nor recommended web sites. Also, we do not collect or ask for personally identifiable information on any of our sites. Carbon Dioxide This is a carbon dioxide molecule. Cyanogen Chloride Here's something new!

We have three different elements here, carbon C , nitrogen N , and chlorine Cl.