Which of the following is the correct Lewis dot symbol for a neutral atom of Al?

• A. Al with five dots around it
• B. Al with one dot around it
• C. Al with three dots around it
• D. Al with eight dots around it

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the Lewis dot symbol represents the valence electrons of an atom, which are the electrons in the outermost shell.
2. Determine the group number of aluminum (Al) in the periodic table. Aluminum is in group 13 (or IIIA), which means it has 3 valence electrons.
3. Draw the chemical symbol for aluminum, 'Al', as the central element in the Lewis dot structure.
4. Place one dot for each valence electron around the symbol, distributing them singly on the four sides (top, right, bottom, left) before pairing any dots.
5. Since aluminum has 3 valence electrons, the correct Lewis dot symbol will have three dots placed around the 'Al' symbol.