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Hi there.
00:02
This question is about lewis dot symbols and specifically what they are.
00:10
So a lewis dot symbol is going to be a way to show valence electrons in an atom as dots.
00:33
So when we are writing a lewis dot symbol, writing the symbol for the element that represents the nucleus of the atom and the core electrons, the ones that are below the valence shell.
01:00
Then we use dots to equal valence electrons in a one -to -one ratio.
01:08
Each dot equals a valence electron.
01:12
And we place those dots around the four sides of the element.
01:16
So if you think about it as having a top, a bottom, a left, and a right.
01:20
We place those dots around the element, and we don't double up until we need to.
01:26
So, for example, nitrogen is in group 5a of the periodic table, so it has five valence electrons.
01:33
So i write the symbol n, and that means the nucleus and the core electrons.
01:38
Now i need to just put in five dots to represent those valence electrons.
01:43
So i start off putting one dot on each side of the symbol.
01:48
So that's four, and there's just the four sides, the top of the bottom, the left and the right.
01:53
So now the fifth dot has to double up somewhere.
01:56
And it doesn't really matter where you put the pair...