Four possible electron configurations for a carbon atom are shown below, but only one schematic represents the correct configuration for a carbon atom in its ground state. Which one is the correct electron configuration?

Key Concepts

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. For carbon, which has six electrons, the correct ground state configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p². This notation indicates that there are two electrons in the 1s orbital, two in the 2s orbital, and two in the 2p orbitals, following the Aufbau principle.

Pauli Exclusion Principle

The Pauli Exclusion Principle states that no two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers. This means that each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons with opposite spins. Understanding this principle is crucial for determining the correct electron configuration, as it dictates how electrons fill the available orbitals.

Hund's Rule

Hund's Rule states that electrons will occupy degenerate orbitals (orbitals of the same energy) singly and with parallel spins before pairing up. This rule helps minimize electron-electron repulsion and is essential for predicting the correct arrangement of electrons in the 2p orbitals of carbon, where two electrons will occupy separate p orbitals before pairing.