Chemistry: The Central Science (13th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0321910419
ISBN 13: 978-0-32191-041-7

Chapter 8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding - Exercises - Page 337: 8.60c

Answer

5, 3

Work Step by Step

Because it is in group 5, Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons. In order to fill the octet, it needs three more electrons. Thus, Nitrogen likes to form three bonds with other atoms in a molecule. After all, three bonds allow Nitrogen to share six electrons, three being from the other atom(s), which gives Nitrogen a full octet.
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