Question

What is the valency of nitrogen in ammonia (${\mathrm{NH}}_3$)?

Answer 1

• Nitrogen has the electronic configuration as 2,5.
• Thus it requires 3 electrons in its valence shell to meet the ideal configuration of noble gases.
• $\mathrm{N}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+3\mathrm{e}\to {\mathrm{N}}^{3-}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$.
• Thus to meet the requirement of 3 electrons, 3 hydrogen atoms need to satisfy, as each hydrogen has 1 electron in the outermost shell.