Which statement about nitrogen and phosphorus is correct

Question

They both classify as halogens
They have the same number of valence electrons
They are both inert
They have the same number of electron shells

Answer 1

None of the statements provided are correct. Here’s a brief explanation for each:

1. They both classify as halogens: This is incorrect. Nitrogen and phosphorus are nonmetals but are not halogens. Halogens are in Group 17 of the periodic table, whereas nitrogen is in Group 15 and phosphorus is in Group 15.

2. They have the same number of valence electrons: This is incorrect. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons (as it is in Group 15), and phosphorus also has 5 valence electrons. Therefore, while they do have the same number of valence electrons, this statement is overly simplistic regarding their properties.

3. They are both inert: This is incorrect. Nitrogen can be quite reactive under certain conditions (for example, it can react with lithium and forms compounds like ammonia). Phosphorus is also reactive and can form various compounds.

4. They have the same number of electron shells: This is incorrect. Nitrogen (atomic number 7) has 2 electron shells while phosphorus (atomic number 15) has 3 electron shells.

Overall, the statement "They have the same number of valence electrons" is technically true, but it may not be contextually useful when discussing their chemical properties. If you want a single correct answer, that would be the most accurate, but it's also relevant to note that they do have different chemical behaviors.