Final answer:
Carbon has four valence electrons, which play a crucial role in its ability to form covalent chemical bonds, and its electron dot structure shows these electrons around the element symbol.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon atoms possess four valence electrons. In the atomic structure of carbon, there are two electrons in the 2s subshell and two in the 2p subshell, all of which are considered valence electrons. The importance of valence electrons lies in the fact that they participate in the formation of chemical bonds with other elements. Therefore, when we draw the electron dot structure for carbon, we represent these four valence electrons as dots surrounding the element symbol (C), with a pair of dots representing the 2s electrons and the other two dots, usually drawn on separate sides, to represent the individual 2p electrons.
For example, in a molecule such as methane (CH4), the carbon atom would use these four valence electrons to form covalent bonds with four hydrogen atoms, each contributing one valence electron. The concept of valence electrons is fundamental in understanding how atoms bond together to form molecules, obeying the octet rule if possible, which states that atoms tend to surround themselves with eight valence electrons to achieve a noble gas electron configuration.