Carbon has 4 valence electrons in the outermost shell. Carbon has atomic number 6 which belongs to group 14 in the periodic table. A carbon atom has a total of 6 electrons revolving around the nucleus. The innermost shell of the carbon is fully occupied with 2 electrons in the 1s orbital while the next shell which is also the outermost shell gets partially filled with the remaining 4 electrons. These four electrons are the valence electrons of the carbon that are present in the 2s and 2p orbitals of the outermost shell.

What are valence electrons in Carbon?

A chlorine atom (Group VIIA) has seven valence electrons and each oxygen atom (Group VIA) has six valence electrons. Because the chlorate ion has a charge of -1, this ion contains one more electron than a neutral ClO 3 molecule. Thus, the ClO 3- ion has a total of 26 valence electrons. ClO 3-: 7 + 3 (6) + 1 = 26.

Valence Electrons. The electrons in the outermost shell are the valence electrons the electrons on an atom that can be gained or lost in a chemical reaction. Since filled d or f subshells are seldom disturbed in a chemical reaction, we can define valence electrons as follows: The electrons on an atom that are not present in the previous rare gas, ignoring filled d or f subshells. In chemistry, valence electrons are the electrons that are located in the outermost electron shell of an element. Knowing how to find the number of valence electrons in a particular atom is an important skill for chemists because this information determines the kinds of chemical bonds that it can form and, therefore, the element's reactivity.

Valence electrons are the electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom. These valence electrons actively participate in the formation of various chemical bonds if the outermost shell partially occupied. The presence of the valence electrons is responsible for the chemical properties of that element.

In the case of the carbon atom, there are 4 valence electrons in the outermost shell which form a covalent bond with other atoms. Let us take the example of Methane (CH4) which is consists of one carbon and four hydrogen atoms. The four valence electrons of the carbon atom form a covalent bond with the one valence electron present in the hydrogen atom.

How to read an electron configuration in Carbon?

One of the best ways to find the number of valence electrons in carbon is by writing down the electron configuration in a carbon atom. Electron configuration is the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus in different orbitals and energy levels. There are different types of orbitals such as s, p, d, and f. The maximum capacity of s, p, d, and f orbitals is 2, 6, 10, and 14 respectively.

The electrons in different orbitals are filled based on the Aufbau principle which states that the electrons are filled into the orbitals of the lowest available energy levels before occupying higher levels.

So based on the Aufbau principle, the electron configuration of carbon is 1s² 2s² 2p².

How to find valence electrons in carbon?

Method 1:

According the electron configuration of carbon atom,

1s² 2s² 2p²

There are 4 valence electrons (2s² 2p²) in the outermost shell of the carbon atom.

Method 2:

The valence electron of the carbon can be determined using a Periodic Table. Each column in the Periodic Table represents a group of elements. All elements in a column have the same number of valence electrons but in different energy levels.

From the above periodic table, one can easily find out the valence electron of the carbon atom. Carbon atom belongs to group 14 in which all elements have 4 valence electrons.

Many of you have this question of how many electrons are in the last cell of carbon or how many valence electrons does carbon have?

In simple words, the number of electrons present in the valence shell (last electronic shell) is called valence electron.

The above two questions mean the same thing, so the carbon has four valence electrons. That is, there are 4 electrons present in the last cell of carbon.

Electronic Configuration of Carbon

If you look at the electronic configuration of carbon, you can see that there are two cells present in carbon. The first cell has two electrons and the last cell has four electrons. So look at this illustration of the electric configuration of carbon.

Also, many of you are confused between the valency of carbon and valence electron. So, for this, you need to understand the difference between valency and valence electrons.

What is Valancy of Carbon

According to the octet theory, in order for each element to reach a stable state, the number of electrons it leaves, or gain or mutual shares in order to fill its octet, we will call that element the valence. Thus, the valency of carbon is four.

After each element gains stability, its electronic configuration will be like the nearest Nobel gas.

Many of you may be confused as to where the word mutual share in definition came from.

There are some elements that can neither gain nor lose electrons in their last cell. In order for this element to be stable, the electrons in its last cell have to be mutually shared with other elements.

An example is a carbon. Because it never becomes a c^-4or c⁺⁴ion by accepting or rejecting the 4 electrons in the last cell in order to gain its stability. Because in this case, you have to give a lot of energy. For this, carbon always forms covalent bonds by mutually sharing its own 4 electrons.

Question Answer on valency and valence electrons

The question-and-answer on valence and valence electrons is fully discussed below.

Problem1In the case of carbon, valency, and valence electrons are equal. So will valence and valence electrons be equal or different in case of all other elements?

Valence Electrons In Each Element

Valence electrons have no relation with Valency. Both are different concepts. Will be equal in the case of those elements whose number of electrons in the last cell will be equal to the number of electrons received or rejected for the stability of that element. Such as carbon, hydrogen, etc.

Problem2What is the electron valency of neon and how many electrons are present in its last cell?

Neon is an inert element. That is, the neon will not receive or reject any electrons. In this case, the valency of neon will be zero. And the last cell of neon will always have 8 electrons. Thus, octet will remain met. The valency electron of neon will be 8.

Problem3What is the valency electron of oxide ion?

If you look at the electronic configuration of oxide ions, you can see that there are 8 electrons present in the valence cell. Thus, the valency electron of oxide ion is 8.

Problem4Give examples of elements other than carbon whose valency and valence electrons will be equal.

The valence of the hydrogen and the valence electron will both be equal. Hydrogen’s valence electron will be 1.

Problem5Give examples of elements that have more than one valence.

Such as iron. It has two valences, two and three. Iron will lose two electrons at some point and turn into rt and at another time it will lose three electrons and turn into py. There are also many elements that have more than one valence.

Carbon Valence Electron Configuration

Problem6How many valence electrons does oxygen have?

The valence electron of oxygen will be 6. Because when you look at the electronic configuration of oxygen, there are 6 electrons present in the last cell(valence cell).

Problem7How many valence electrons do Fluorine have?

The valence electron of fluorine is 7. That is, fluorine will gain 1 electron and gain the electronic configuration of neon. And the valency of fluorine will be 1.

Problem8How many valence electrons does Nitrogen have?

There are five electrons present in the last cell of nitrogen. Thus, the valence electron of nitrogen will be five.

Carbon Valence Electrons Bonding

Problem9How many valence electrons do Sodium have?

The valence electron of sodium will be one. Because the last cell of sodium i.e. 3s has only one electron.

Conclusion

Valence Electrons Periodic Table List

This tutorial discusses how many valence electrons there are in carbon. And also the valency of carbon is discussed in depth here. Here are some beautiful photos that have been added to the tutorial to make you understand.

Oxygen Valence Electrons

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