To determine the correct electron configuration for a carbon atom, we need to consider the number of electrons and their arrangement in various energy levels and orbitals. The atomic number of carbon is 6, which means a neutral carbon atom has 6 electrons. Let's go through the options step-by-step to identify the correct one:
1. Option: [tex]\([ He ] 2 s^4\)[/tex]
- The notation [tex]\([ He ]\)[/tex] represents the electron configuration up to helium (which covers 2 electrons: [tex]\(1s^2\)[/tex]).
- Adding [tex]\(2s^4\)[/tex] implies that 4 electrons occupy the [tex]\(2s\)[/tex] orbital.
- However, the [tex]\(2s\)[/tex] orbital can only hold a maximum of 2 electrons, making this configuration invalid.
2. Option: [tex]\(1 s^2 2 p^4\)[/tex]
- This notation suggests that there are 2 electrons in the [tex]\(1s\)[/tex] orbital and 4 electrons in the [tex]\(2p\)[/tex] orbital.
- However, this only accounts for 6 electrons (2 in [tex]\(1s\)[/tex] and 4 in [tex]\(2p\)[/tex]) and does not include the [tex]\(2s\)[/tex] orbital, missing 2 electrons.
- Hence, this option is incorrect because carbon cannot have electrons only in the [tex]\(1s\)[/tex] and [tex]\(2p\)[/tex] orbitals without filling the [tex]\(2s\)[/tex] orbital first.
3. Option: [tex]\(1 s^2 2 s^2 2 p^2\)[/tex]
- This notation indicates 2 electrons in the [tex]\(1s\)[/tex] orbital, 2 electrons in the [tex]\(2s\)[/tex] orbital, and 2 electrons in the [tex]\(2p\)[/tex] orbitals.
- This sums up to exactly 6 electrons (2 in [tex]\(1s\)[/tex], 2 in [tex]\(2s\)[/tex], and 2 in [tex]\(2p\)[/tex]), which corresponds to the total number of electrons in a neutral carbon atom.
- This configuration adheres to the Aufbau principle, filling the lower energy levels first.
- Therefore, this configuration is correct.
4. Option: [tex]\([ Ne ] 2 s^2 2 p^2\)[/tex]
- The notation [tex]\([ Ne ]\)[/tex] represents the electron configuration up to neon (which covers 10 electrons: [tex]\(1s^2 2s^2 2p^6\)[/tex]).
- Adding [tex]\(2s^2 2p^2\)[/tex] on top of neon's configuration suggests an element with 4 electrons beyond neon.
- However, carbon only has 6 electrons, not 10 + 4.
- Thus, this option is incorrect.
After examining each possibility, the correct electron configuration for a carbon atom is:
[tex]\[1 s^2 2 s^2 2 p^2\][/tex]
