The Lewis dot structure for sodium (Na) is a representation of its valence electrons. Sodium is an alkali metal with an atomic number of 11, which means it has 11 electrons. In its ground state, sodium has one valence electron in its outermost shell.
To draw the Lewis dot structure for sodium:
- Write the chemical symbol for sodium, which is Na.
- Place a single dot next to the symbol to represent the one valence electron.
Here is the Lewis dot structure for sodium:
Na•
This simple structure shows that sodium has one valence electron available for bonding. In chemical reactions, sodium tends to lose this electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, forming a Na+ ion.