Question

Sal drew the electron dot diagram of an aluminum atom as shown.

A l with 1 dot each above and right.

How should Sal correct his diagram?

He should add five more dots so that the atom obeys the octet rule.
He should add ten more dots so that all thirteen electrons are shown.
He should add a single dot below the symbol.
He should add one dot below and one dot to the left of the symbol.
A B C or D

Answer 1

C

Aluminum has 3 valence electrons (configuration [Ne]3s2 3p1). Lewis (dot) diagrams show valence electrons only. Sal drew two dots, so add one more (e.g., below the symbol) to make three.