What is the atomic number of carbon?

The atomic number of an element represents the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that element. For carbon, the atomic number is 6. This means that each carbon atom contains 6 protons. The atomic number is crucial because it defines the element and determines its position in the periodic table.

Moreover, the atomic number also influences an element’s chemical behavior, as it dictates the arrangement of electrons in its electron shells. Carbon, being the fundamental building block of life, has unique properties arising from its atomic structure, specifically its ability to form four covalent bonds, thereby allowing it to create complex molecules found in organic chemistry. Thus, identifying carbon as having an atomic number of 6 is essential to understanding its role in chemistry and biology.

The other numbers associated with the options do not correspond to the number of protons in a carbon atom and are thus associated with other elements in the periodic table, highlighting the importance of knowing atomic numbers when studying elemental properties.