In terms of valence electrons, how many does a nitrogen atom have?

A nitrogen atom has five valence electrons. This is determined by its position in the periodic table; nitrogen is located in group 15 (or group V) and has an atomic number of 7. The atomic number indicates that nitrogen has seven total electrons, with an electron configuration of 1s² 2s² 2p³.

In the context of valence electrons, only the electrons in the outermost shell (the highest energy level) are considered. For nitrogen, the first two electrons fill the 1s orbital, and the remaining five electrons occupy the second energy level: two in the 2s orbital and three in the 2p orbital. Thus, the three electrons in the 2p orbital and the two in the 2s orbital combine to give a total of five valence electrons.

Understanding the valence electron count is essential because these electrons are crucial for chemical bonding and reactivity. Nitrogen, with its five valence electrons, is capable of forming three covalent bonds, which is a vital aspect of its chemistry, particularly in organic molecules and biochemistry.