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

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