* Protons: The number of protons defines the element. An atom with 6 protons is Carbon (C).
* Electrons: A neutral carbon atom has 6 electrons. This atom has only 2 electrons, meaning it has lost 4 electrons.
* Ion Charge: Losing electrons results in a positive charge. Since it lost 4 electrons, the charge is +4.
Therefore, the ion notation is C⁴⁺