Question

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

Answer 1

❤️Nitrogen is more electronegative than phosphorus.

❤️ On moving down a group, the number of shell increases. Therefore, the valence electrons move away from the nucleus and the effective nuclear charge decreases. 

❤️This causes the decrease in the tendency to attract electron and hence electronegativity decreases.

Answer 2

Dear Student,

# Electronic configurations -

• Electronic configuration of Nitrogen (Z = 7) => 1s2 2s2 2p3 or 2, 5.
• Electronic configuration of Phosphorus (Z = 15) => 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3 or 2, 8, 5.

# Electronegativity -

• As you know, electronegativity decreases from top to bottom down the group.
• Nitrogen is in 2nd period while Phosphorus is in 3rd period of same group 15.
• Hence, Nitrogen will be more electronegative.

Thanks dear. Hope this helps you...