The Bohr model for nitrogen is a representation of the nitrogen atom based on the Bohr model of the atom, which was proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913. According to this model, the nitrogen atom consists of a nucleus at the center, which contains 7 protons and 7 neutrons. Surrounding the nucleus are 7 electrons, which are arranged in two energy levels or shells.
The first energy level, closest to the nucleus, can hold up to 2 electrons. In the case of nitrogen, this level is fully occupied with 2 electrons. The second energy level can hold up to 8 electrons, but in nitrogen, it contains 5 electrons. This arrangement can be visualized as follows:
- First energy level (n=1): 2 electrons
- Second energy level (n=2): 5 electrons
This configuration explains the chemical properties of nitrogen, including its ability to form three covalent bonds, as seen in molecules like ammonia (NH₃). The Bohr model provides a simple way to understand the electron arrangement in atoms, although it has been superseded by more accurate quantum mechanical models.