Question

What indicates the number of valence electrons to the atom represented by dots scattered on the four sides of the symbol?

Answer 1

You mean like `\mathbf( :stackrel(..)"O"=stackrel((+))("N")=stackrel(..)"O": )`?

Explanation:

If I have misunderstood your question, I apologize, but are you asking how to count up the number of valence electrons.

The number of dots represents the number of valence electrons. In a molecule, the dots are usually grouped as pairs so that a lone pair of electrons is specified. Water has 2 lone pairs of electrons centred on the oxygen atom. Ammonia has 1 lone pair of electrons centred on nitrogen.

Anyway, if you are not satisfied, would you please reword your question?