Why Nitrogen can't accomodate more than 8 valence electrons and Phosporous can? Thank you.
2007-04-21 19:10:21 · 4 answers · asked by NG Yut Sei 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
phosphorus can because it is in period 3 of the periodic table.. the additional d orbitals it contains allow it to have more than 8.. for example.. the last subshell would contain 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3... it still has 3 more left in the p orbital.. BUT it has an empty D orbital just ready to take on electrons if it has to. nitrogen is lacking it.
2007-04-21 19:22:33 · answer #1 · answered by h k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nitrogen has S and P orbital. The S orbital can accomodate 2 electrons, while the P orbital can accomodate 8. So, Nitrogen can have 8 valence electrons in its outermost shell, P.
Phosphorous has S, P, and D orbitals. The D orbital can accomodate 10 total electrons in its shell. Phosphorous can potentially have more electrons because it has a D orbital to fit extras into.
For more information on electron configuration, see source link.
2007-04-22 02:23:09 · answer #2 · answered by clevelandbrownsgirl2007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Phosphorus electrone configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3 with no d, so it can recieve 5 electrones to the d orbital, and 3 to fill the p
Nitrogen : 1s2 2s2 2p3 and it can only recieve 3. the d is too far away
2007-04-22 04:16:41 · answer #3 · answered by Papilio paris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply because Nitrogen doesn't have an extra sub shell.
2007-04-22 02:23:28 · answer #4 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋