* Atomic Number: 6 (This defines carbon as an element and tells us the number of protons.)

* Protons: 6 (All atoms of a given element have the same number of protons)

* Neutrons: 6 (The most common isotope of carbon, carbon-12, has 6 neutrons. Other isotopes exist with varying numbers of neutrons.)

* Electrons: 6 (In a neutral atom, the number of electrons always matches the number of protons)