Nitrogen (atomic number 7) and phosphorus (atomic number 15) belong to group 15 of the periodic table. Write the electronic configurations of these two elements. Which of these will be more electronegative? Why?

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Solution

Electronic configuration of nitrogen (atomic number 7) :
K = 2 L = 5

Electronic configuration of phosphorus (atomic number 15) :
K = 2 L = 8 M = 5

The element nitrogen will be more electronegative because of the smaller size of its atom compared to phosphorus. Since nitrogen has a smaller atomic radius than phosphorus, the attraction of its nucleus towards the incoming electron is more than phosphorus. Therefore, nitrogen accepts electrons more easily.

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7

15

15

The atomic numbers of three elements A, B and C are given below :

Element Atomic number

A 5

B 7

C 10

(i) Which element belongs to group 18? (ii) Which element belongs to group 15?

(iii) Which element belongs to group 13? (iv) To which, period/periods do these elements belong?

The electronic configuration of Phosphorus (atomic number 15) will be:

15

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