Nitrogen (atomic number 7) and phosphorus (atomic number 15) belong to group 15 of the Periodic Table. Write the electronic configuration of these two elements. Which of these will be more electronegative? Why?

Explanation

The atomic number of nitrogen is 7 os its electronic configuration is 2,5. The atomic number of phosphorus is 15 so its electronic configuration os 2,8,5. We can see that nitrogen atom has electron shells whereas phosphorus atom has three electron shells. Due to the presence of only two electron shells in it, a nitrogen atom is smaller than a phosphorus atom. Nitrogen will be more electronegative because its atom has a small size due to which the attraction of its nucleus for the incoming electron is more.