Question

What is the octet rule of nitrogen?

Answer 1

The octet rule is the understanding that most atoms seek to gain stability in their outer most energy level by filling the s and p orbitals of the highest energy level with eight electrons.

Nitrogen has an electron configuration of `1s^2 2s^2 2p^3` this means that nitrogen has five valence electrons `2s^2 2p^3`. Nitrogen seeks out three additional electrons to fill the p orbital and gain the stability of a noble gas, `1s^2 2s^2 2p^6`.

However, now nitrogen has 10 electrons and only 7 protons making it a -3 charge anion `N^(-3)`.

I hope this was helpful.
SMARTERTEACHER

Application that shows the rule here: http://www.chem.ucla.edu/harding/IGOC/O/octet_rule.html