Number of electrons shared in the formation of nitrogen molecules is

Options

A. Three
B. Four
C. Eight
D. Six

Explanation

To determine the number of electrons shared in the formation of nitrogen molecules (N₂), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Atomic Structure of Nitrogen
- Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7, which means it has 7 electrons.
- The electronic configuration of nitrogen is 1s² 2s² 2p³.

### Step 2: Identify the Valence Electrons
- The valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell, which are responsible for bonding.
- For nitrogen, the valence electrons are in the 2s and 2p orbitals: 2 (from 2s) + 3 (from 2p) = 5 valence electrons.

### Step 3: Determine the Bonding in Nitrogen Molecule (N₂)
- In the nitrogen molecule (N₂), two nitrogen atoms come together to form a bond.
- Each nitrogen atom contributes 3 electrons from its p-orbitals for bonding.

### Step 4: Forming the Triple Bond
- When two nitrogen atoms bond, they share three pairs of electrons, resulting in a triple bond.
- Each pair of shared electrons counts as 2 electrons, so for a triple bond, the total number of shared electrons is 3 pairs × 2 electrons/pair = 6 electrons.

### Step 5: Conclusion
- Therefore, the total number of electrons shared in the formation of the nitrogen molecule (N₂) is 6.

### Final Answer
The number of electrons shared in the formation of nitrogen molecules is **6**.

---