Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Lewis Symbols
Lewis symbols are a way to represent the valence electrons of an element using dots around the element's symbol. Each dot corresponds to a valence electron, and the arrangement of these dots can indicate how an element might bond with others. For representative elements, the number of dots typically corresponds to the group number in the periodic table.
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Ion Formation
Ions are charged particles that form when atoms gain or lose electrons. A cation, such as X²⁺, is formed when an atom loses electrons, resulting in a positive charge. The charge indicates the number of electrons lost; in this case, X has lost two electrons, which affects its Lewis symbol by reducing the number of dots representing its valence electrons.
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Representative Elements
Representative elements are found in groups 1, 2, and 13-18 of the periodic table and include metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. These elements exhibit a wide range of chemical properties and typically follow predictable patterns in their electron configurations. Understanding the group of the representative element helps in determining its common ion forms and corresponding Lewis symbols.
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