What representation is used in a dot and cross diagram to show the sharing of electrons in Cl₂?

In the context of a dot and cross diagram, the sharing of electrons between atoms is illustrated by using dots and crosses to represent the valence electrons. In the case of Cl₂ (chlorine gas), two chlorine atoms are involved. Each chlorine atom has seven valence electrons, and to achieve a stable electronic configuration, they share a total of two pairs of electrons (four electrons in total).

Thus, the correct representation involves each chlorine atom contributing one pair of electrons, typically depicted with one atom's electrons represented as dots and the other atom's electrons as crosses. This accurate depiction illustrates that the two atoms share their electrons to form a covalent bond, leading to the conclusion that Cl atoms share two pairs of dots, or crosses, to represent the shared pairs of electrons.

This representation helps visualize the concept of covalent bonding and clarifies how atoms interact to achieve stability through sharing electrons.