What is the octet rule of nitrogen?

1 Answer
BRIAN M. · Media Owl
Feb 8, 2014

The octet rule is the understanding that most atoms seek to gain stability in their outer most energy level by filling the s and p orbitals of the highest energy level with eight electrons.

Nitrogen has an electron configuration of #1s^2 2s^2 2p^3# this means that nitrogen has five valence electrons #2s^2 2p^3#. Nitrogen seeks out three additional electrons to fill the p orbital and gain the stability of a noble gas, #1s^2 2s^2 2p^6#.

However, now nitrogen has 10 electrons and only 7 protons making it a -3 charge anion #N^(-3)#.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Application that shows the rule here: http://www.chem.ucla.edu/harding/IGOC/O/octet_rule.html

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