Question

Which type of bond is present in nitrogen?
A. Triple covalent bond
B. Double covalent bond
C. Ionic bond
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: In this question we will use the definition of nitrogen i.e it exists in nature as ${N_2}$, a diatomic molecule. This is because nitrogen has 7 electrons, in the first shell, 2 electrons and in the second, valence 5. Of these 5, 3 electrons, bonding is free which is ideal for a triple bond between two nitrogen atoms.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Nitrogen has a triple covalent bond.
Nitrogen is non metal. The outer shell of a nitrogen atom contains 5 electrons.
Two nitrogen atoms share three electrons each, forming three covalent bonds and making a nitrogen molecule ${N_2}$.
By sharing the six electrons where the shells touch each nitrogen atom can count 8 electrons in its outer shell. These full outer shells with their shared electrons are now stable.
The ${N_2}$ molecule will not react to other nitrogen atoms any further. Note the 3 pairs (6 electrons) that the atoms shared. This is known as triple bond. The triple bond is very strong and that is what makes the (stable) nitrogen so unreactive.
There are no ions in nitrogen gas (no + or – charges), because the electrons are shared and not transferred from one atom to another.

Note: It is advisable to consider basic concepts in these types of questions as the concept of covalent bond is used in this question, i.e. another way the octet rule can be fulfilled is by sharing electrons between atoms so that covalent bonds can be formed. As in the atoms of nitrogen, three covalent bonds will form between two atoms of nitrogen because each nitrogen atom needs three electrons to fill its outermost shell.