Final answer:
An electron dot structure, also known as Lewis dot structure, is a graphical representation of the valence electrons in an atom. It helps understand chemical bonding and molecular geometry.
Step-by-step explanation:
An electron dot structure, also known as Lewis dot structure, is a graphical representation of the valence electrons in an atom. It uses dots to represent the valence electrons around the atomic symbol. These structures help us understand and predict chemical bonding and molecular geometry.
For example, in the electron dot structure of oxygen (O), the symbol for oxygen is surrounded by 6 dots, representing its 6 valence electrons.
By looking at electron dot structures, we can determine the number of bonds an atom can form and the shape of molecules.
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