Discovery

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Daniel Rutherford, a Scottish Physician, discovered nitrogen in 1772. But it was Lavoisier, who proved that nitrogen is an element and that it was not a supporter of combustion and respiration. He called it 'azote' meaning 'no life'. The name 'Nitrogen' was given to it by Jean Antoine Chaptal (1756 - 1832), in the year 1790.

Position of Nitrogen in the Periodic Table

Some Basic Features of Nitrogen

Symbol	N
Atomic Number	7
Electronic Configuration	2,5
Formula	N2
Relative Atomic Mass	14
Relative Molecular Mass	28
Vapor Density	14
Valency	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

 

1. Position

Nitrogen is the first member of the group VA. Other members of this group are phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).

2. Electronic configuration

Members of this group have five electrons in their valence shell.

3. Valency

The members of group VA generally show trivalent character but nitrogen shows more than one valency ranging from +1 to +5.

Example:

Oxide of Nitrogen	N2O	NO	N2O3	NO2	N2O5
Name	Nitrous Oxide	Nitric Oxide	Nitrogen Trioxide	Nitrogen Dioxide	Nitrogen Pentoxide
Valency	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5

 

4. Metallic character

Nitrogen is a non-metal. The non-metallic character of the VA group decreases on going down the group:

5. Reactivity

Members of group VA form hydrides, halides and oxy-acids. For example:

Hydrides

Oxy-acids

Halides

6. Oxides

The oxides of VA group members are acidic in nature. The acidic nature of the oxides decreases as we move down the group.