Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Carbon

Atomic number 6 means that every Carbon nucleus contains 6 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Carbon.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 6 means that every Carbon nucleus contains 6 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Carbon.

Carbon (C) is chemical element 6. It belongs to the nonmetals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in living molecules, graphite and diamond and composite materials.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 6 means that every Carbon nucleus contains 6 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Carbon.

Keep exploring

→ Carbon · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

6CCarbon
Carbon · C · Z = 6

Carbon (C) is chemical element 6. It belongs to the nonmetals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Carbon (C) is chemical element 6. It belongs to the nonmetals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in living molecules, graphite and diamond and composite materials.

What its position in the table tells us

Carbon sits in period 2, group 14 and the P block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.