Write the electron configuration for N. Then write the Lewis symbol for N and show which electrons from the electron configuration are included in the Lewis symbol.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atomic number of nitrogen (N), which is 7, indicating it has 7 electrons.
2. Write the electron configuration for nitrogen: Start by filling the lowest energy orbitals first, following the order of 1s, 2s, and 2p.
3. The electron configuration for nitrogen is: 1s^2 2s^2 2p^3.
4. Draw the Lewis symbol for nitrogen: Represent the valence electrons, which are the electrons in the outermost shell (2s and 2p orbitals).
5. For nitrogen, there are 5 valence electrons (2 from 2s and 3 from 2p), so the Lewis symbol will have 5 dots around the symbol 'N'.

Key Concepts

Electron Configuration

Electron configuration describes the distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals. For nitrogen (N), which has 7 electrons, the electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p³. This notation indicates that there are two electrons in the 1s orbital, two in the 2s orbital, and three in the 2p orbital, reflecting the order in which electrons fill the available energy levels.

Lewis Symbols

Lewis symbols, or Lewis dot structures, represent the valence electrons of an atom as dots surrounding the element's symbol. For nitrogen, the Lewis symbol is represented as 'N' with three dots, indicating its three valence electrons in the 2p orbital. This visual representation helps in understanding how atoms bond and interact with each other.

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and are crucial for chemical bonding. In nitrogen, the valence electrons are the ones in the 2s and 2p orbitals, totaling five (2 from 2s and 3 from 2p). These electrons are involved in forming bonds with other atoms, making them essential for understanding molecular structure and reactivity.