Which of the following is the correct Lewis dot structure for the element fluorine (F)?

• A. F with six dots arranged as three pairs around the symbol
• B. F with seven dots arranged as three pairs and one single dot around the symbol
• C. F with five dots arranged as two pairs and one single dot around the symbol
• D. F with eight dots arranged as four pairs around the symbol

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the Lewis dot structure represents the valence electrons of an element as dots around the chemical symbol.
2. Determine the number of valence electrons for fluorine (F). Fluorine is in group 17 of the periodic table, so it has 7 valence electrons.
3. Distribute these 7 valence electrons as dots around the symbol 'F'. The dots are placed in pairs on the four sides (top, bottom, left, right) of the symbol, with one side having a single dot to account for the odd number.
4. Arrange the dots so that there are three pairs (6 electrons) and one single dot (1 electron), totaling 7 valence electrons around the fluorine symbol.
5. Verify that the Lewis structure matches the correct number of valence electrons and follows the convention of pairing electrons after placing one on each side.