Carbon Protons Neutrons Electrons (And How to Find them?)

Carbon has 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons.

But how will you find the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in Carbon (C)?

Well, it is very easy to find the protons, neutrons and electrons of carbon atom.

Here I have given a very simple method for finding the protons, neutrons and electrons of carbon atom.

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Carbon

How to find protons?

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom. ^[1]

How to find neutrons?

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.

How to find electrons?

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.

Let’s calculate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in carbon.

If you don’t want to read, then you can also watch this video.

#1 Number of Protons in Carbon

If you have a periodic table with you, then most of the answers are in front of you.

You can see the elements, their atomic number and their atomic mass from the periodic table.

Now here our element is Carbon (C).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of carbon is 6.

As the atomic number of carbon is 6, it has a total of 6 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Carbon is 6.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Carbon

In order to find the number of neutrons of carbon atom, you should know its atomic mass first.

The number of neutrons in carbon can be obtained by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.

The atomic mass of carbon is 12.011 u (which you can round it to 12). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 12), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 12).

So you will get 12 – 6 = 6.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Carbon is 6.

#3 Number of Electrons in Carbon

For a neutral atom, the number of electrons and the number of protons are the same.

Here, the carbon atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in carbon is equal to its number of protons (which is also equal to its atomic number).

In the beginning, we have found that the number of protons in carbon is 6.

Thus, the number of electrons in Carbon is 6.

Summary

Number of Protons in Carbon

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Carbon = Atomic number of Carbon = 6

Number of Neutrons in Carbon

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Carbon = Atomic mass of Carbon – Atomic number of Carbon = 12 – 6 = 6

Number of Electrons in Carbon

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Carbon = Atomic number of Carbon = 6

I hope you have understood the simple method for finding the protons, neutrons and electrons of carbon atom.

Check out related topics for more practice;
Nitrogen protons neutrons electrons
Oxygen protons neutrons electrons
Fluorine protons neutrons electrons
Neon protons neutrons electrons
Aluminum protons neutrons electrons