The electronic configuration of an atom of Nitrogen is 1s2 2 2s2 2 2p1x x 1 2p1y y 1 2p1z z 1 because the atom is

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Chemistry - 2024 Subject: Chemistry

Question 1 Report

The electronic configuration of an atom of Nitrogen is 1s2 2  2s2 2  2p1x x 1  2p1y y 1  2p1z z 1  because the atom is
Answer Details

The electronic configuration of nitrogen is given as: 1s2 2s2 2px1 2py1 2pz1.


This configuration suggests that nitrogen has 7 electrons, as follows:


  • 2 electrons in the 1s orbital (1s2).
  • 2 electrons in the 2s orbital (2s2).
  • 1 electron in the 2px orbital (2px1).
  • 1 electron in the 2py orbital (2py1).
  • 1 electron in the 2pz orbital (2pz1).

This is the **ground state** electron configuration of nitrogen, meaning that the atoms have electrons in the **lowest possible energy levels**. It demonstrates nitrogen's **stable configuration**, where it has half-filled p orbitals, each with a single electron. This configuration obeys Hund's Rule, which states that every orbital in a subshell gets one electron before any one orbital gets two (due to electron repulsion). It also obeys the Aufbau principle which suggests electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy level.


Therefore, this configuration indicates that the atom is simply obeying rules governing electron configuration. The electrons are in their lowest energy orbitals, consistent with the principles that direct electron arrangement in an atom, ensuring stability without being excited or unstable. There are no **energy changes** being depicted nor is the atom in an **excited state**—it is showing the normal ground state.

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