Group 15 Elements Electronic Configuration - NEET Notes, Formula & Common Mistakes
Group 15 Elementsp-Block ElementsElectronic ConfigurationNEET ChemistryNEET 2025Nitrogen Family
Group 15 Elements Electronic Configuration - NEET Notes, Formula & Common Mistakes
p-Block ElementsĀ·2 min readĀ·NEET 2026
What NEET Asks
Direct questions on general electronic configuration.
Identifying specific configurations for N, P, As, Sb, Bi.
Questions on stability related to half-filled orbitals.
Key Points
Group 15 elements are also known as the Nitrogen Family or Pnictogens.
Their general valence shell electronic configuration is nsĀ²npĀ³.
This configuration indicates 5 valence electrons in total.
The npĀ³ configuration signifies a half-filled p-orbital, contributing to enhanced stability.
Nitrogen (N, Z=7): [He]2sĀ²2pĀ³
Phosphorus (P, Z=15): [Ne]3sĀ²3pĀ³
Arsenic (As, Z=33):
[Ar]3dĀ¹ā°4sĀ²4pĀ³
Antimony (Sb, Z=51): [Kr]4dĀ¹ā°5sĀ²5pĀ³
Bismuth (Bi, Z=83): [Xe]4fĀ¹ā“5dĀ¹ā°6sĀ²6pĀ³
Must-Know Formula / Reaction
General Electronic Configuration:nsĀ²npĀ³
n: Principal quantum number of the outermost shell.
s: s-subshell, holds 2 electrons.
p: p-subshell, holds 3 electrons (half-filled).
Common Mistakes
Students often forget to include the filled d-orbitals for heavier elements (As, Sb, Bi) in the complete electronic configuration.
Don't confuse the general valence shell configuration (nsĀ²npĀ³) with the complete configuration.
Incorrectly applying Hund's rule or Pauli's exclusion principle when determining unpaired electrons.
Rapid Revision
Group 15 elements have a characteristic nsĀ²npĀ³ valence shell configuration with 5 valence electrons. This half-filled p-orbital arrangement provides extra stability. Remember the specific configurations for N, P, As, Sb, Bi, especially including d and f orbitals for heavier members.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the general electronic configuration of Group 15 elements?ā¾
The general valence shell electronic configuration for all elements in Group 15 (Nitrogen family) is `nsĀ²npĀ³`. This indicates that they have two electrons in the outermost s-subshell and three electrons in the outermost p-subshell.
Why are Group 15 elements relatively stable?ā¾
The Group 15 elements possess a half-filled p-orbital configuration (npĀ³). This half-filled arrangement provides extra exchange energy and spherical symmetry, leading to enhanced stability for these elements.
How many valence electrons do Group 15 elements have?ā¾
Each element in Group 15 has a total of 5 valence electrons. These consist of two electrons from the s-orbital (nsĀ²) and three electrons from the p-orbital (npĀ³) of their outermost shell.
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