How many dots are shown around an oxygen atom in its Lewis dot symbol?

• A. 6
• B. 8
• C. 4
• D. 2

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the Lewis dot symbol represents the valence electrons of an atom as dots placed around the element's chemical symbol.
2. Determine the group number of oxygen in the periodic table. Oxygen is in group 16 (or VIA), which means it has 6 valence electrons.
3. Since each valence electron is represented by one dot in the Lewis dot symbol, the number of dots around the oxygen symbol corresponds to its 6 valence electrons.
4. Arrange the 6 dots around the oxygen symbol in pairs on four sides (top, bottom, left, right) to represent the valence electrons properly.
5. Conclude that the Lewis dot symbol for oxygen shows 6 dots around the oxygen atom, representing its 6 valence electrons.