C
Carbon
Element 6 · Reactive nonmetal
Carbon (C)
Carbon is the backbone of all known life. Its atoms bond in chains and rings, forming millions of compounds as well as diamond, graphite and graphene.
- Reactive nonmetal
- Period 2
- Group 14
- p-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 12.011
- u
- Electron configuration
- [He] 2s2 2p2
- Melting point
- 3,549.9 °C
- 3,823 K
- Boiling point
- 3,824.9 °C
- 4,098 K
- Density
- 2.267 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 2.55
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 170 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 11.26 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about carbon
- 01
Carbon forms more compounds than all the other elements combined.
- 02
Diamond and graphite are both pure carbon — only the arrangement of the atoms differs.
- 03
Radiocarbon dating uses carbon-14 to date organic remains up to about 50,000 years old.
Applications
What is carbon used for?
- Steelmaking
- Fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
- Pencils, lubricants and electrodes
- Carbon fibre composites
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Known since antiquity
Year
Prehistoric
Where
Known since antiquity
Name origin
Latin carbo, “charcoal”.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 6
- Atomic mass
- 12.011 u
- Group
- 14
- Period
- 2
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [He] 2s2 2p2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p2
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 4
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.55
- Electron affinity
- 1.263 eV
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 170 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 2
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+4, +2, -4).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st1,086.5
- 2nd2,352.6
- 3rd4,620.5
- 4th6,222.7
- 5th37,831
- 6th47,277
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 3,823 K · 3,549.9 °C · 6,421.7 °F
- Boiling point
- 4,098 K · 3,824.9 °C · 6,916.7 °F
- Density
- 2.267 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 8.517 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- —
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Carbon questions
What is C on the periodic table?
C is the symbol for carbon, element 6 on the periodic table. It sits in group 14, period 2, in the reactive nonmetal category, and has an atomic mass of 12.011.
What is the atomic number of carbon?
Carbon has atomic number 6, so every carbon atom has 6 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is C and its atomic mass is 12.011.
Who discovered carbon?
Carbon has been known since antiquity (Prehistoric); no single discoverer is credited. The name comes from Latin carbo, “charcoal”.
What is carbon used for?
Carbon is used for: steelmaking; fuels (coal, oil, natural gas); pencils, lubricants and electrodes; carbon fibre composites.
Is carbon a metal?
No. Carbon is classed as a reactive nonmetal.
What is the electron configuration of carbon?
The electron configuration of carbon is [He] 2s2 2p2. Its 6 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 4.