Answer:
four electrons
Step-by-step explanation:
Let us attempt to write the electronic configuration of carbon in the ground state. This electronic configuration will now be;
C- 1s2 2s2 2p2
The outermost principal energy level of carbon is the n=2 level which houses the 2s2 and 2p2, making a total of four electrons in the outermost principal energy level of an atom of carbon in the ground state.