Nitrogen (N)
[He] 2s² 2p³. 3 unpaired electrons, period 2, group 15, p block.
Element or ion
Type a symbol, a name or an atomic number, add a charge such as Fe3+ or Cl-, or tap an element in the table. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.
NNitrogen, Z = 7, 14.007 u
[He] 2s2 2p3
In full: 1s² 2s² 2p³
- Blockp block
- Period2
- Group15
- Valence5
- Unpaired3
- MagneticPara
Last electron 2p
- n2shell
- l1p subshell
- m+1orbital
- s+½spin up
Step by step
- Nitrogen has 7 electrons.
- Fill in (n + l) order: 1s² 2s² 2p³.
- Write the subshells in order of n: 1s² 2s² 2p³.
- Replace the helium core with [He]: [He] 2s² 2p³.
Nitrogen (N): the numbers
| Atomic number | 7 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 14.007 u |
| Period | 2 |
| Group | 15 |
| Block | p block |
| Valence electrons | 5 |
| Unpaired electrons | 3 |
| Magnetic | paramagnetic |
| Last electron | 2p: n = 2, l = 1, m = +1, s = +1/2 |
Nitrogen (N): quick answers
What is the electronic configuration of nitrogen?
Nitrogen has 7 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p³, or [He] 2s² 2p³ in short.
How many unpaired electrons does nitrogen have?
Nitrogen has 3 unpaired electrons, so it is paramagnetic. Put one electron in each box of a subshell before pairing (Hund’s rule) to see them.
What are the quantum numbers of the last electron of nitrogen?
The last electron goes into 2p: n = 2, l = 1, m = +1, s = +1/2. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.