The Microchip 24C02C-E/P is a 2Kbit serial EEPROM organized as 256 x 8 bytes, communicating over an I²C bus at up to 100 kHz. Its 3.5 µs access time means the part can complete a random read within one bus cycle at 100 kHz, leaving margin for bus capacitance and host controller response.
3.5 µs access at 100 kHz — bus timing margin
At 100 kHz the I²C clock period is 10 µs. That leaves 6.5 µs of the clock period for the master to sample the data line — comfortable margin even with 400 pF bus capacitance. If you are daisy-chaining multiple EEPROMs on the same bus, the combined rise time still fits within the I²C specification at 100 kHz, but verify the total bus capacitance against the 400 pF limit for standard-mode.
Through-hole 8-DIP — prototyping and retrofit fit
The 8-DIP package is a through-hole footprint that sockets easily on a breadboard or a legacy PCB. For a production run, the Tube shipping medium means the parts arrive in antistatic tubes of about 40 to 60 units — fine for hand-assembly or low-volume wave-solder lines. If your pick-and-place line is set up for surface-mount only, the 24C02C family has SOIC and TSSOP variants; the 24C02C-E/P is the through-hole option.