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

Bianca Hurley

12 May, 05:17

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 (2)

Know the Answer?

Evelyn Mann · Answer 1

carbon becacuse it is an alkaline earth metal in period 4

Lucy Ramsey · Answer 2

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'.