Answer
A. 6 and 12.
B. 6.
C. 4, otherwise the carbon would be unstable.
D. Nonradioactive carbon differs in structure because it has two less neutrons. However, it is identical to carbon 12 in terms of behavior.
Work Step by Step
A. The atomic number is 6 but the atomic weight is the sum of the protons and electrons.
B. The number of electrons is equal to the number protons.
C. The first shell can hold 2 electrons and the second shell 8 electrons. As such, carbon would need 4 more electrons on the outermost shell to make it full. Carbon becomes more stable when 4 more electrons with other atoms in order to form 4 covalent bonds.
D. Carbon 14 has 2 more neutrons than carbon 12 in its nucleus. However, being that the chemical properties of the atom are determined by the electrons, the chemical behavior of carbon 12 and 14 are identical.
