Multiple Choice
How many unpaired electrons are present in the ground-state electron configuration of a carbon atom?
4
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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Which of the following best explains why the valency of carbon is 4, even though it has 6 electrons?
A
Carbon has 4 electrons in its outermost shell, which are available for bonding.
B
Carbon can only form bonds with elements that have 4 electrons.
C
The 2 inner electrons of carbon participate in chemical bonding.
D
Carbon loses all 6 electrons during chemical reactions.
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the valency of an element is determined by the number of electrons in its outermost (valence) shell that can participate in bonding.
Write the electron configuration of carbon, which has 6 electrons: $1s^2 2s^2 2p^2$.
Identify the valence shell of carbon, which is the second shell containing the $2s$ and $2p$ orbitals, holding a total of 4 electrons.
Understand that the 2 electrons in the first shell ($1s^2$) are core electrons and do not participate in bonding.
Conclude that carbon's valency is 4 because it has 4 valence electrons available to form bonds, explaining why it typically forms four covalent bonds.
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