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Which statement about nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is correct?

(1 point)
Responses

They are both inert.
They are both inert.

They have the same number of electron shells.
They have the same number of electron shells.

They are both classified as halogens.
They are both classified as halogens.

They have the same number of valence electrons.

1 answer

The correct statement about nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is:

They have the same number of valence electrons.

Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons (in group 15 of the periodic table), and phosphorus also has 5 valence electrons, as it is in the same group. The other statements are incorrect:

  • They are not inert; nitrogen can react under certain conditions, and phosphorus is known to be quite reactive.
  • They 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 in group 17 of the periodic table, while nitrogen and phosphorus are in group 15.