AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Carbon (atomic number 6) has 4 valence electrons (electronic configuration: 2, 4) and its valency is 4 (tetravalent).
Electronic configuration of carbon is 2, 4 — so 4 electrons are in the outermost shell. Valency equals the number of electrons needed to complete the octet or electrons available for sharing; here carbon shares all 4, giving valency = 4. The source passage directly states "carbon has a valency of four." Examiners expect both values stated clearly in one line.