so I have a set of fill in the blanks for symbol, atomic number, mass number, protons, neutrons electrons and charge.

Question

Protons: 6
Neutrons: 8
Electrons: 2

I said the atomic number was 6, the mass number was 12, and the charge was +4. The only thing I was unsure of was the symbol. I know the element is Carbon and that in the upper right hand corner it should say +4, and I know in the upper left hand corner it should say twelve, but I'm not sure about the bottom lefthand corner. What is the rule for that corner?

Thanks ~Emmyna

Answer 1

Bottom left corner is the atomc number, for C that is 6, the atomic number. The upper left corner is the mass number. The upper right corner is the charge and the lower right corner is the number of atoms, for example H₂. By the way, the charge on carbon atoms is zero if it is not combined with anything. Any element is zero in the uncombined state. C usually has a valence of +4.