Final answer:
The 'dots' in an electron dot diagram represent an element's valence electrons. The correct answer is Option 1, indicating that the number of dots is equal to the number of valence electrons in the element. The correct answer is option 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
When constructing an electron dot diagram (also known as a Lewis electron dot diagram or Lewis structure), the number of 'dots' to put around an element symbol represents the number of valence electrons in that element. Hence, the correct option to your question is Option 1: The number of dots represents the number of valence electrons in the element. An element's valence electrons are those electrons that are located in the outermost energy level and participate in chemical bonding.
For instance, beryllium has two valence electrons, so its electron dot diagram will show two 'dots' around the symbol 'Be.' Likewise, sulfur, with six valence electrons, will have six 'dots' arranged around its symbol 'S.'
It is important to note that the dots are placed around the element's symbol indicative of all four sides (top, bottom, left, and right). Initially, a single dot is placed on each side for elements with up to four valence electrons. When an element has more than four valence electrons, the additional dots are paired with the first four.