BeF2- Fewer than eight valence electrons due to a shortage of valence electrons Certain molecules are electron deficient, having fewer than electrons around the central atom. Elements that commonly form electron deficient compounds are beryllium. And if you are doing. In the Periodic Table, Nitrogen is placed in Group 5 across Period 2. Thus, as per the electronic configuration of the element i.e. 2,5, it has five electrons in its outermost valence shell. As per the molecule N2, it has two atoms of Nitrogen. The total number of electrons present in the valence shell is 5. 2 = 10e. What is the number of valence electrons in nitrogen? Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons. N, is located in group 1 5, which means that it has 5 valence electrons. Nitrogen exists as diatomic molecules, N2. Find the Atomic Number. To find out the atomic number of nitrogen, we can use the periodic table.

The Nitrogen valences Ranging from -3, as in ammonia and amines, to +5 as in nitric acid (Tyagi, 2009). This element does not expand valencies like others.

The nitrogen atom is a chemical element with atomic number 7 and the first element of group 15 (formerly VA) of the periodic table. The group consists of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi) and moscovium (Mc).

Figure 1: Bohr diagram of the nitrogen atom.

The elements share certain general similarities in chemical behavior, although they are clearly differentiated chemically from each other. These similarities reflect common features of the electron structures of their atoms (Sanderson, 2016).

Nitrogen is present in almost all proteins and plays an important role both in biochemical applications and in industrial applications. Nitrogen forms strong bonds because of its ability to form a triple bond with another nitrogen atom and other elements.

Therefore, there is a lot of energy in the nitrogen compounds. Before 100 years ago, little was known about nitrogen. Now, nitrogen is commonly used to preserve food, and as a fertilizer (Wandell, 2016).

Electronic configuration and validations

In an atom, the electrons fill the different levels according to their energies. The first electrons fill the low energy levels and then move to a higher energy level.

The outermost energy level in an atom is known as the valence layer and the electrons placed in this layer are known as valence electrons.

These electrons are found mainly in the formation of bonds and in the chemical reaction with other atoms. Therefore, valence electrons are responsible for different chemical and physical properties of an element (Valence Electrons, S.F.).

The nitrogen, as mentioned above, has an atomic number of Z = 7. This implies that their filling of the electrons in their energy levels, or electronic configuration, is 1S ² 2S ² 2 P ³ .

It must be remembered that in nature, atoms always seek to have the electronic configuration of noble gases by either gaining, losing or sharing electrons.

In the case of nitrogen, the noble gas for which it seeks to have an electronic configuration is the neon, whose atomic number is Z = 10 (1S ² 2S ² 2 P ⁶ ) And helium, whose atomic number is Z = 2 (1S ² ) (Reusch, 2013).

The different forms that the nitrogen has to combine will give it its valence (or oxidation state). In the specific case of nitrogen, being in the second period of the periodic table, it is unable to expand its valence layer as do the other elements of its group.

The Number Of Valence Electrons In Nitrogen

It is expected to have valencies of -3, +3 and +5. However, nitrogen has valence states ranging from -3, such as ammonia and amines, to +5, as in nitric acid. (Tyagi, 2009).

The valence bond theory helps to explain the formation of compounds, according to the electronic configuration of the nitrogen for a given oxidation state. For this we must take into account the number of electrons in the valence layer and how much to acquire noble gas configuration.

Nitrogen compounds

Figure 2: molecular nitrogen structure with valence 0.

Given its large number of oxidation states, nitrogen can form a large number of compounds. In the first instance, it must be remembered that in the case of molecular nitrogen, by definition its valence is 0.

The oxidation state of -3 is one of the most common for the element. Examples of compounds with this oxidation state are ammonia (NH3), amines (R3N), ammonium ion (NH ₄ ⁺ ), Imines (C = N-R) and nitriles (C≡N).

In the oxidation state -2, nitrogen is left with 7 electrons in its valence layer. This odd number of electrons in the valence layer explains why the compounds with this oxidation state have a bridging bond between two nitrogen. Examples of compounds with this oxidation state are hydrazines (R ₂ -N-N-R ₂ ) And hydrazones (C = N-N-R ₂ ).

In the oxidation state -1, nitrogen is left with 6 electrons in the valence layer. Examples of nitrogen compounds with this valence are the hydroxyl amine (R ₂ NOH) and the azocomposites (RN = NR).

In positive oxidation states, nitrogen is generally bound to oxygen atoms forming oxides, oxisols, or oxides. For the oxidation state +1, the nitrogen has 4 electrons in its valence layer.

Examples of compounds with this valence are dinitrogen oxide or hilarating gas (N ₂ O) and nitrous compounds (R = NO) (Reusch, Oxidation States of Nitrogen, 2015).

For the oxidation state of +2, an example is nitrogen oxide or nitric oxide (NO), a colorless gas produced by the reaction of metals with dilute nitric acid. This compound is a highly unstable free radical since it reacts with O ₂ In the air to form the NO gas ₂ .

Nitrite (NO ₂ ^- ) In basic solution and nitrous acid (HNO ₂ ) In acid solution are examples of compounds with +3 oxidation state. These may be oxidizing agents to normally produce NO (g) or reducing agents to form the nitrate ion.

Dinitrogen trioxide (N ₂ OR ₃ ) And the nitro group (R-NO ₂ ) Are other examples of nitrogen compounds with valence +3.

Nitric oxide (NO ₂ ) Or nitrogen dioxide is a nitrogen compound with valence +4. It is a brown gas produced generally by the reaction of concentrated nitric acid with many metals. Dimerizes to form N ₂ OR ₄ .

Number Of Valence Electrons In Nitrogen Gas

In state +5 we find nitrates and nitric acid which are oxidizing agents in acidic solutions. In this case, the nitrogen has 2 electrons in the valence layer, which are in the 2S orbital. (Oxidation states of nitrogen, S.F.).

There are also compounds such as nitrosylazide and dinitrogen trioxide where nitrogen has several oxidation states in the molecule. In the case of nitrosilazide (N ₄ O) the nitrogen has valence -1, 0, + 1 and +2; And in the case of dinitrogen trioxide, it has valence +2 and +4.

Nomenclature of nitrogen compounds

Given the complexity of the chemistry of nitrogen compounds, traditional nomenclature was not enough to name them, much less identify them properly. That is why, among other reasons, the international union of pure and applied chemistry (IUPAC) created a systematic nomenclature where compounds are named according to the amount of atoms they contain.

This is beneficial when naming nitrogen oxides. For example nitric oxide would be called nitrogen monoxide and nitrous oxide (NO) dinitrogen monoxide (N ₂ OR).

Determine Number Of Valence Electrons

Additionally, in the year 1919, the German chemist Alfred Stock Developed a method for naming chemical compounds based on the oxidation state, which is written in Roman numerals enclosed in parentheses. Thus, for example, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide would be called nitrogen oxide (II) and nitrogen oxide (I) respectively (IUPAC, 2005).

References

1. (2005). NOMENCLATURE OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY IUPAC Recommendations 2005. Retrieved from iupac.org.
2. Oxidation states of nitrogen. (S.F.). Recovered from kpu.ca.
3. Reusch, W. (2013, May 5). Electron Configurations in the Periodic Table . Retrieved from chemistry.msu.edu.
4. Reusch, W. (2015, August 8). Oxidation States of Nitrogen . Retrieved from chem.libretexts.org.
5. Sanderson, R. T. (2016, December 12). Nitrogen group element . Retrieved from britannica.com.
6. Tyagi, V. P. (2009). Essential Chemistry Xii. New Delhi: Ratna Sagar.
7. Valence Electrons . (S.F.). Retrieved from chemistry.tutorvista.com.
8. Wandell, A. (2016, December 13). Chemistry of Nitrogen . Retrieved from chem.libretexts.org.