Final answer:
To draw the electron dot diagram for Li2O, two Li atoms with a single valence electron each transfer one electron to an O atom with six valence electrons, thus forming ionic bonds and completing the octet for oxygen. The total number of transferred electrons is two, one from each Li atom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked to draw the electron dot diagram for Li2O and determine how many electrons are transferred. In the case of lithium (Li), which is an alkali metal, it has one valence electron, and typically it loses that electron to achieve a full outer shell. Oxygen (O), being a chalcogen, has six valence electrons and needs two more to complete its octet.
For Li2O, two lithium atoms will each lose one electron, and the oxygen atom will gain those two electrons, resulting in the transfer of a total of two electrons from lithium to oxygen. The Lewis electron dot diagram for Li2O involves two Li atoms each with a single dot representing their lone valence electron, and an O atom with six dots, two on three sides and a space open on one side.
The lithium atoms become Li+ ions and the oxygen atom becomes an O2- ion. After the transfer, the Li atoms are left with no dots and oxygen has a complete set of eight dots representing its octet.