An atom's Lewis dot structure has four dots. Which of the following elements could it be, and why?

Aluminum, because it is a metal with four electrons in period 3.

Beryllium, because it is in period 2 and has four total electrons.

Carbon, because it is in group 14 and has four valence electrons.

Calcium, because it is an alkaline earth metal in period 4.

Question

Chemistry

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7 December, 18:37

An atom's Lewis dot structure has four dots. Which of the following elements could it be, and why?

Aluminum, because it is a metal with four electrons in period 3.

Beryllium, because it is in period 2 and has four total electrons.

Carbon, because it is in group 14 and has four valence electrons.

Calcium, because it is an alkaline earth metal in period 4.

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Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Reuben Ellis · Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is: 'Carbon, because it is in group 14 and has four valence electrons'.

Explanation:

Lewis dot structure are the structures which tells us the number of valence electrons around the nucleus of an atom in a molecule.

An atom's Lewis dot structure has four dots. For this Lewis structure, an atom of this element will be having 4 valence electron in its valence shell. And from the given option only carbon of group 14 have 4 valence electrons in its valence shell which means that given Lewis dot structure with four dots represents carbon atom.

Hence, correct answer is: 'Carbon, because it is in group 14 and has four valence electrons'.