Question

Carbon has six protons and six neutrons. Which of the following represents the arrangement of electrons in a carbon

atom?
2,2,2
2,10
2,4
2,8,2
Please explain if you can?Sorry

Answer 1

2,4

Step-by-step explanation:

So in an atom the first/smallest shell always has 2 electrons in it

Then the next one has 8

Then the one after that has 8

And so on

However, carbon only has 6 electrons, so we get the 2 from the first shell, and then 4 from the next one

Answer 2

Carbon has 6 electrons.

Before I answer, here's what you need to know.

There are 7 shells. Each shell can hold a certain amount of electrons.

1: 2

2: 8

3: 18

4: 32

5: 32

6: 18

7: 8

Carbon has 6 electrons, remember? So shell 1 is already completely filled. Shell 1 completely full, so onto shell 2.

Shell 2 needs 8 electrons, but carbon only has 4 to give, so 2, 4.

I hope this helps!