Question

What type of element is nitrogen?

Answer 1

Hint: Elements are arranged in the periodic table according to the atomic numbers. The periodic table consists of 7 periods and 18 groups. Nitrogen is one of the elements that have the atomic number 7 and mass number 14. It is of the group 15 and of period 2. Elements can be classified as metals, non – metals and metalloids.

Complete answer:
The modern periodic table consists of elements arranged according to the atomic numbers. The periodic table consists of 18 groups and 7 periods. Nitrogen is the element of the group 15, it has atomic number 7. The electronic configuration of nitrogen is$1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{3}}$.
Nitrogen exists in the form of a diatomic molecule that consists of triple bonds between nitrogen atoms. This is due to the vacant p – orbital, so it exists as$N\equiv N$. The ${{N}_{2}}$molecule exists as a gaseous molecule.
The periodic table includes elements classified as metals and non – metals. Nitrogen is the element that comes under the category of non – metals.
Hence, nitrogen is a type of element which is a non – metal and exists as a diatomic molecule with triple bonds ($N\equiv N$).

Note:
The elements at the left hand side of the periodic table are called metals as they are highly reactive and have only one or two electrons in their valence shell. The elements at the right side of the periodic table are non – metals, while in the middle are some elements that possess the properties of both metals and non – metals called metalloids.