High School

What is the most common ion charge for nitrogen?

A. +5
B. +7
C. -3
D. -1

Answer :

Sure, I'd be happy to explain the solution to this question step-by-step!

To determine the most common ion charge for nitrogen, we need to consider nitrogen's position on the periodic table and its electronic configuration.

1. Atomic Number and Electron Configuration:
- Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7.
- Its electron configuration is [tex]\(1s^2 2s^2 2p^3\)[/tex].

2. Valence Electrons:
- Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons (2 in the [tex]\(2s\)[/tex] subshell and 3 in the [tex]\(2p\)[/tex] subshell).

3. Stability and Ion Formation:
- Atoms generally strive to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to the nearest noble gas. For nitrogen, gaining 3 electrons will fill its [tex]\(2p\)[/tex] subshell, achieving the electron configuration of neon ([tex]\(1s^2 2s^2 2p^6\)[/tex]).

4. Ion Charge Calculation:
- When nitrogen gains 3 electrons, it carries three additional negative charges. Hence, the ion charge is [tex]\(-3\)[/tex].

Therefore, the most common ion charge for nitrogen is [tex]\(-3\)[/tex].