Lewis Dot Structures Overview
Lewis Dot Structures are a method of representing an atom's valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost shell contributing to chemical bonding. In these structures, dots are used to indicate the number of valence electrons surrounding an atom's elemental symbol. This visual representation is significant when exploring the bonding mechanisms, such as ionic and covalent bonds. As atoms seek to achieve a stable electron configuration—often through the acquisition of a complete outer shell—Lewis Dot Structures allow a clearer understanding of how atoms bond and interact with one another to form compounds.