Diagrams

Lets face it, after drawing them for about two months Bohr models are just that…a bore.

So…why not try making an electron dot diagram.¬† Electrons, specifically valence electrons, are really whats important when it comes to chemical activity anyway.

To draw an electron dot diagram follow three simple rules.

1. Write the correct chemical symbol.
2. Imagine there is a box around the chemical symbol. Place dots above, below, to the right, or left of the symbol to represent valence electrons  (ONLY valence electrons).
3. Start by placing the first four dots alone, then pair them up to a maximum of 8 valence electrons.  Note: If there are fewer than 4 valence electrons, then only place the amount of dots that represent the number of valence electrons.