Nitrogen can form three bonds with other atoms.

Nitrogen has three valence electrons, and it will bond with other atoms to gain a full octet of electrons. In the case of nitrogen, it is bonded to three hydrogen atoms, which each have one electron in their outer shell. When nitrogen bonds with hydrogen to form ammonia, a nitrogen atom loses its three valence electrons and becomes positively charged. The hydrogen atoms each lose an electron and become positively charged as well. The two positively charged ions attract each other strongly and form an ionic bond.

The remaining two valence electrons on the nitrogen atom are shared equally by both hydrogen atoms (one per hydrogen atom), forming a covalent bond between them.

Last modified: September 6, 2022