Which term describes a structural formula in which electrons are represented by dots or dashes between two atomic symbols representing covalent bonds?

• A. Lewis Structure
• B. Structural Formula
• C. Ionic Compound
• D. Lattice Energy

Answer: (A)

Showing valence electrons as dots and bonds as dashes between atoms is a Lewis structure. This way of drawing highlights how atoms share electrons in covalent bonds and also shows lone pairs around each atom, giving a more complete picture of electron distribution. A structural formula, by contrast, mainly shows connectivity with lines for bonds but doesn’t always display all valence electrons or lone pairs. Ionic compounds involve transfer of electrons and are described by ions and lattice energy, which is the energy to separate a solid ionic lattice into gaseous ions, not by covalent electron-dot representations. So the description given best fits a Lewis structure, the Lewis dot structure.