Final answer:
The correct electron configuration for an individual carbon atom is 1s² 2s² 2p². The given options seem to refer to individual carbon atoms, not the molecule C2. The correct choice from the listed options is (a) 1s² 2s² 2p².
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct electron configuration for C2, which is a molecule and not a single atom, is not listed among the given options since those configurations refer to individual carbon atoms. However, each carbon atom in the C2 molecule has the electron configuration 1s²2s²2p². When two carbon atoms bond to form C2, they use their p-orbitals to create molecular orbitals in a bonding and antibonding fashion.
To answer the question intending to address the electron configuration of an individual carbon atom, the correct answer would be 1s²2s²2p² since carbon has a total of six electrons: 2 in the 1s orbital, 2 in the 2s orbital, and the remaining 2 electrons are in the 2p orbitals. Therefore, the correct option from the given choices would be (a) 1s² 2s² 2p².