Question

Question #822dc

Answer 1

The answer is (B) `2` electrons.

Explanation:

Carbon, `"C"`, has an atomic number equal to `6`, which of course means that a neutral carbon atom has a total of `6` electrons surrounding its nucleus.

Now, these electrons are distributed on two energy levels

• the first energy level holds two electrons
• the second energy level holds four electrons

Now, the first energy level contains one orbital, the `1s` orbital. The second energy level contains a total of four orbitals

• one s-orbital, the `2s` orbital, located in the `2s` subshell
• three p-orbitals, the `2p_x`, `2p_y`, and `2p_z` orbitals, lcoated in the `2p` subshell

As you know, an orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons. This means that if you distribute carbon's `6` electrons according to th Aufbau Principle, you will get

`1s^2 ->` two electrons occupy the `1s` orbital

`2s^2 ->` two electrons occupy the `2s` orbital

`2p^2 ->` two electrons occupy the `2p_x` and `2p_z` orbitals

Therefore, you can say that carbon has two electrons in its `2p` subshell.