Periodic Table Explorer

Virtual Lab

Click colourful element cards, discover families, compare trends, and ask Master Alchem why each element behaves the way it does.

reactive nonmetal

Atomic number 6

C

Carbon

12.011

Common oxidation states: -4, +2, +4

Pick two neighbors and compare shells, group, and electronegativity. Trends become easier when you compare, not memorize.

Nuclear charge increases, so atoms usually hold bonding electrons more strongly.

New shells are added, so atoms often become larger and shielding increases.

Shared valence patterns explain why groups behave like chemical neighborhoods.