In nitrogen molecule, the two atoms of nitrogen are joined by

Options

A. One sigma bond and one pi bond
B. Two sigma bonds and one pi bond
C. One sigma bond and two pi bonds
D. Three sigma bonds

Answer

To determine how the two nitrogen atoms in a nitrogen molecule (N₂) are joined, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Nitrogen Atom Configuration**:
- Each nitrogen atom has an atomic number of 7, which means it has 5 valence electrons in its outer shell (since the electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p³).

2. **Understand the Bonding Requirement**:
- To achieve a stable electronic configuration, nitrogen atoms need to share electrons to fill their outer shell. Each nitrogen atom needs 3 more electrons to complete its octet.

3. **Determine the Type of Bonding**:
- Nitrogen atoms form a triple bond to share three pairs of electrons. This means that each nitrogen atom shares three of its valence electrons with the other nitrogen atom.

4. **Identify the Bond Characteristics**:
- In a triple bond, there is one sigma (σ) bond and two pi (π) bonds. The sigma bond is formed by the head-on overlap of orbitals, while the pi bonds are formed by the side-to-side overlap of p orbitals.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, in the nitrogen molecule (N₂), the two nitrogen atoms are joined by one sigma bond and two pi bonds.

### Final Answer:
The two atoms of nitrogen in the nitrogen molecule (N₂) are joined by **one sigma bond and two pi bonds**.

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