Question

Why do chemists use the Lewis symbols to represent chlorine and sodium rather than drawing the electron diagrams of each element before and after the reaction? A) Lewis symbols are easier to use. B) Lewis symbols are more scientific. C) Lewis symbols are more accurate. D) Lewis symbols are more abstract.

Answer 1

Lewis symbols are used for their simplicity and clarity in representing the valence electrons of elements like chlorine and sodium, especially when illustrating chemical reactions such as the formation of sodium chloride.

(Option A)

Step-by-step explanation:

Chemists use Lewis symbols to represent elements such as chlorine and sodium because they provide a simpler and more visually concise way to depict the transfer or sharing of electrons during chemical reactions. For example, in the case of chlorine (Cl), the Lewis symbol would show the element's chemical symbol surrounded by seven dots representing its seven valence electrons.

When two chlorine atoms form a chlorine molecule, a single pair of electrons is shared, easily represented by the Lewis structure. Similarly, the sodium (Na) symbol can be represented, showing a single dot for its one valence electron which can be easily removed or transferred, as seen when sodium reacts with chlorine to form sodium chloride (NaCl).

Answer 2

A

Step-by-step explanation:

The answer is A, when you drawing the electron diagrams for each element you should draw all the electron for given element.

In the example of sodium and chlorine:

Sodium : 1s2, 2s2 2p6, 3s1

Chlorine: 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2 3p5

All the electron on the 1 and 2 levels will not be used to this representation because they will not leave the valence band. Only the electrons in the 3 level will interact in this example.

Remember that the sodium will lose an electron and become an cation. This happens because all the element will look for a stable form with the last band having 8 electron.

The chlorine will receive an electron, so the last band will have 8 electron.