alleryStart learning →In a Lewis symbol, what do the dots drawn around the element symbol represent?
AIts total electron count
BIts valence electrons
CIts unpaired core electrons
DIts number of neutrons
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Its valence electrons
1. A Lewis symbol is the element symbol with dots placed around it.
2. One dot is drawn for each valence electron the atom has.
3. Core electrons are left out, because they take no part in bonding.
4. So counting the dots gives the valence electron count directly, which is what predicts bonding behaviour.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry", section Lewis Symbols_
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