Na4C
sodium carbon compound
Sodium ions can balance C4- in simple ionic examples.
What Is the Charge of Carbon?
Carbon commonly forms C4- C4+ in introductory ionic compounds.
Quick answer: Carbon usually has a common ionic charge of -4 or +4, written as C4- or C4+.
| Element | Carbon |
|---|---|
| Symbol | C |
| Atomic number | 6 |
| Common ionic charge | -4, +4 |
| Common ions | C4-, C4+ |
Why Carbon has this charge
Carbon has common reference charges of -4, +4. Use the compound name and context to distinguish ionic charge from oxidation state.
Carbon charge examples
CaC2
calcium carbon compound
Calcium ions can balance common negative Carbon ions.
FAQ
Is Carbon charge the same as oxidation state?
Ionic charge is the charge on an actual ion. Oxidation state is a bookkeeping number used inside compounds. They can match, but they are not always the same thing.
How do I use this in formulas?
Combine positive and negative ions so the total charge is zero. You can also use the ionic compound calculator.
Where can I see the full chart?
Use the periodic table with charges or the ionic charges chart.