Final answer:
A neutral Carbon atom has four valence electrons, as it belongs to group 14 of the periodic table, where elements have four electrons in their outer shell for bonding.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a neutral Carbon atom, there are four valence electrons. This is because Carbon belongs to group 14 of the periodic table (also known as the Carbon group), which is characterized by elements having four electrons in their outermost shell. These four electrons are used for bonding with other atoms when Carbon forms compounds. A model of a Carbon atom, Carbon-12 specifically, shows that it contains six protons and six neutrons in the nucleus, with six electrons in orbit around it, two in the inner shell and the remaining four in the outermost shell, which are the valence electrons used for bonding.