Which of the following best represents the Lewis dot structure for a neutral arsenic (As) atom, a group 5A element?

• A. As with five dots arranged as two pairs and one single dot around the symbol
• B. As with three dots arranged as a single pair and one single dot
• C. As with eight dots arranged as four pairs around the symbol
• D. As with two dots placed together as a single pair

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the group number of arsenic (As) in the periodic table. Arsenic is in group 5A (or group 15), which means it has 5 valence electrons.
2. Recall that the Lewis dot structure represents the valence electrons of an atom as dots placed around the element's symbol.
3. Since arsenic has 5 valence electrons, you need to place 5 dots around the symbol 'As'. The dots are arranged to show electron pairs and unpaired electrons.
4. Arrange the 5 dots as two pairs (each pair representing two electrons) and one single dot (an unpaired electron) around the symbol. This reflects the typical way to represent 5 valence electrons in Lewis structures.
5. Verify that the total number of dots equals the number of valence electrons (5) and that the structure corresponds to a neutral atom, with no charges indicated.