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Multiple Choice
After two nitrogen atoms share their electrons to form a nitrogen molecule (N_2), how many valence electrons does each nitrogen atom have?
A
6
B
5
C
7
D
8
Verified step by step guidance
1
Recall that a nitrogen atom has 5 valence electrons because it is in group 15 (or group V) of the periodic table.
When two nitrogen atoms form a nitrogen molecule (N_2), they share electrons through a covalent bond to complete their octets.
Each nitrogen atom shares 3 electrons with the other, forming a triple bond, which means each atom contributes 3 electrons to the shared bond.
To find the total number of valence electrons around each nitrogen atom in N_2, add the number of electrons the atom originally has (5) to the number of shared electrons it effectively 'owns' in the bond (3).
Therefore, each nitrogen atom in N_2 has 8 valence electrons around it, satisfying the octet rule.