Question

Maximum number of covalent bonds formed by $N$ and $P$ respectively are:

• A. $3,5$
• B. $3,6$
• C. $4,5$
• D. $4,6$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $4,5$

The outer electronic configuration is:
$N:2s^{2}2p^3$
$P:3s^{2}3p^{3}3d^0$
Covalency of an atom refers to the number of electrons that atom can share to form chemical bonds. Usually it is the number of bonds formed by the atom. In case of nitrogen, its atom can share up to four electrons(three covalent and one co-ordinate), one in the s-subshell and the other three in the p-subshell. In addition to this, absence of d-orbitals restricts its covalency to four only.
$P$ can using vacant $d$-orbitals. So the maximum number of covalent bonds $N$ and $P$ are 4 and 5 respectively.