Question

Nitrogen shows maximum covalency of $4$ whereas other heavier elements of the group show higher covalency because,

• A. it has higher electronegativity
• B. it has smaller size
• C. it has only $4$ orbitals available in the valence shell
• D. it prefers to form multiple bonds with atoms.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Covalency of nitrogen is restricted to four due to absence of $d$-orbitals in its valence shell. Only four orbitals (one $2s$ and three $2p$ orbitals) are available in its valence shell