How many valence electrons does a nitrogen atom have, and how many bonds does a neutral nitrogen atom typically make?

• A. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons and typically makes 5 bonds.
• B. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons and typically makes 3 bonds.
• C. Nitrogen has 7 valence electrons and typically makes 1 bond.
• D. Nitrogen has 3 valence electrons and typically makes 3 bonds.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atomic number of nitrogen, which is 7. This indicates that a neutral nitrogen atom has 7 electrons.
2. Determine the electron configuration of nitrogen. The electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p³, which shows that nitrogen has 5 electrons in its outer shell (2s² 2p³).
3. Understand that the electrons in the outer shell are the valence electrons. Therefore, nitrogen has 5 valence electrons.
4. Recognize that a neutral nitrogen atom typically forms 3 covalent bonds to achieve a stable octet configuration. This is because it needs 3 more electrons to complete its octet.
5. Conclude that nitrogen typically makes 3 bonds in compounds, such as in ammonia (NH₃), where nitrogen shares its 3 unpaired electrons with hydrogen atoms.