Scientific Tutor

How to do fill in valence electron dots for an Electron Dot Structure (Lewis structure)?

To fill in the valence electrons for electron dot structures (Lewis structures) make sure you remember the section on how to count valence electrons on the periodic table. Once you know that then you can move on with this section. In electron dot structures (Lewis structures), valence electrons are represented by the dot mark of a pen much like a period at the end of a sentence. Each one dot represents one valence electron. Once you have your cross configuration drawn for your electron dot structure (Lewis structure) you should go to each atom of each element and draw in the valence electrons dots of each atom. You want to place the dots around each atom either above or below or to the right or left of the letter symbol for the atom. Try to distribute the dots as evenly as possible around the letter representing the atom. Usually you will see teachers start to group the valence electron dots in pairs if they have more than 4. Do this for every atom in the Lewis structure you are working on at the time.

Examples: Use the picture in the STARTING PICTURE COLUMN and then fill in the valence electrons as dots around the atoms they come from. If needed you can look up how many valence electrons each element has with this valence electron periodic table. VIDEO Filling in Valence Electrons Examples 1.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS: Use the picture in the STARTING PICTURE COLUMN and then fill in the valence electrons as dots around the atoms they come from. Try to remember how many valence electrons each element has from a regular periodic table. If needed you can look up how many valence electrons each element has use this valence electron periodic table.