Question

What is the octet rule of carbon?

Answer 1

The octet rule is the understanding that most atoms seek to gain stability in their outer most energy level by filling the s and p orbitals of the highest energy level with eight electrons.

Carbon has an electron configuration of `1s^2 2s^2 2p^2` this means that carbon has four valence electrons `2s^2 2p^4`. Carbon seeks out four additional electrons to fill the p orbital and gain the stability of a noble gas, `1s^2 2s^2 2p^6`.

However, now carbon has 10 electrons and only 6 protons making it a -4 charge anion `C^(-4)`.

Although, carbon can also lose four electrons and become stable at `1s^2` and become `C^(+4)`.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER