Which statement about nitrogen and phosphorus is correct they are both inert they have the same number of valence electrons they have the same number of electron shells they are both classified as halogens

Answer 1

The correct statement among the options provided is: they have the same number of valence electrons.

Both nitrogen (N, atomic number 7) and phosphorus (P, atomic number 15) are in the same group of the periodic table (Group 15, also known as the nitrogen group), and they both have 5 valence electrons.

The other statements are incorrect:

• They are not inert; nitrogen can react under certain conditions (e.g., with very reactive substances) and phosphorus is also reactive.
• Nitrogen and phosphorus do not have the same number of electron shells; nitrogen has 2 electron shells while phosphorus has 3.
• They are not classified as halogens; halogens are Group 17 elements (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine).