Question

What is the number of valence electrons in nitrogen?

Answer 1

Nitrogen has `5` valence electrons.

Explanation:

The thing to remember about main-group elements is that the group number gives you the element's number of valence electrons.

In your case, nitrogen, `"N"`, is located in group `1color(red)(5)`, which means that it has `color(red)(5)` valence electrons.

As you know, nitrogen exists as diatomic molecules, `"N"_2`. Each nitrogen molecule consists of two atoms of nitrogen that are bonded by a triple covalent bond.

This is a direct consequence of the fact that each nitrogen atom has `5` valence electrons. Each atom can thus complete its octet by sharing three electrons.

Another thing to mention here is the fact that nitrogen's `5` valence electrons causes the atom to form `3-` anions. This is the case because adding `3` electrons to nitrogen's valence shell will give it a complete octet.