Question

How many electrons does carbon lack in its outer shell? 1 2 3 4

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is 4.

Explanation-

The atomic number of carbon is 6. Its electronic configuration is 2,4

The electronic configuration depicts that k shell of the carbon atom contains 2 electrons. The outer shell or the valence shell contains 4 electrons.

Every atom wants to possess 8 electrons in its valence shell in order to become stable.

Thus, the number of electrons lacked by carbon atom = 8-4

                                                                                               = 4

Answer 2

A neutral carbon doesn't lack any electrons. It has exactly the same number of electrons as it has neutrons.
However, it has four electrons in its outer shell in comparison with eight electrons for a noble gas.
In that sense, it needs four electrons to complete its second shell.