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6C12.011
Polyatomic Non-Metalp-block

Carbon

Element 6 on the periodic table, symbol C, group 14, period 2.

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.

Properties

Atomic Number
6
Atomic Mass
12.0110 u
Group
14
Period
2
Block
p-block
Category
Polyatomic Non-Metal
State at 25 °C
Solid
Melting Point
Not measured
Boiling Point
Not measured
Density
1.821 g/cm³
Atomic Radius
70 pm
Electronegativity
2.55
Oxidation States
-4, +2, +4
Abundance in Crust
200 mg/kg
Discovered
Known since antiquity
Discovered By
Ancient Egypt

Electron Configuration

[He] 2s2 2p2

1s2 2s2 2p2

Ionisation Energies (kJ/mol)

  1. 1. 1,086.5
  2. 2. 2,352.6
  3. 3. 4,620.5
  4. 4. 6,222.7
  5. 5. 37,831
  6. 6. 47,277

Elements near Carbon

Elements in the same group share the number of outer electrons and behave in similar ways. Elements in the same period share a shell, so they change steadily from left to right.

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