Find the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) on the periodic table, and answer the following questions.

Is carbon a metal or a nonmetal? How many valence electrons does a carbon atom have?

Carbon is a nonmetal.
Carbon has 4 valence electrons.
The number of valence electrons is determined by the group number of the element.
Carbon is in group 14, which means it has 4 ​ valence electrons.

Explanation

Locating Carbon First, we need to locate carbon (C) on the periodic table. Carbon is in the second period and group 14 of the periodic table.

Identifying Carbon as a Nonmetal Next, we need to determine if carbon is a metal or a nonmetal. Carbon is a nonmetal. Metals are typically found on the left side of the periodic table, while nonmetals are found on the right side. Carbon is located on the right side.

Determining Valence Electrons Finally, we need to determine the number of valence electrons carbon has. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom and determine its chemical properties. The number of valence electrons is determined by the group number of the element. Carbon is in group 14, which means it has 4 valence electrons.


Examples
Understanding valence electrons is crucial in chemistry. For example, carbon's four valence electrons allow it to form a wide variety of stable covalent bonds with other elements, which is why carbon is the backbone of organic chemistry and essential to all known life. Knowing that carbon is a nonmetal helps predict its behavior in chemical reactions, such as its tendency to form covalent bonds rather than ionic bonds.

Answered by GinnyAnswer | 2025-07-07

Carbon is a nonmetal located in group 14 of the periodic table, and it has 4 valence electrons. These valence electrons are crucial for carbon's bonding properties. Hydrogen, mentioned in the context, has 1 valence electron but is not the primary focus here.
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Answered by Anonymous | 2025-07-14