Silicon dioxide is SiO2. Silicon has 4 valence electrons, while each oxygen has 6 valence electrons. This can be shown as
** * *
** O * * Si * * O **
* * **
At points where there is one valence electron, represented by a lone *, the electrons will be 'shared' between the atoms. This will make silicon dioxide appear as
** *--------------- *
** O *--* Si * ------ * O **
*------- * **
, as the lines with no arrows indicate that each electron moves between the atoms, and does not stay with one forever.
