Which one among the following has valency of 3?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

NDA-II 2024 (GAT) Official Paper (Held On: 01 Sept, 2024)

Answer 1

CONCEPT:

Valency of Elements

Valency is the combining power of an element, typically measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can combine with or displace to form a compound.
Different elements have different valencies based on their ability to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable electronic configuration.

EXPLANATION:

Carbon (C): Carbon typically has a valency of 4 because it can form four covalent bonds to achieve a stable electronic configuration (e.g., CH₄).
Oxygen (O): Oxygen typically has a valency of 2 because it needs two additional electrons to complete its outer shell (e.g., H₂O).
Nitrogen (N): Nitrogen typically has a valency of 3 because it needs three additional electrons to complete its outer shell (e.g., NH₃).
Sodium (Na): Sodium typically has a valency of 1 because it can lose one electron to achieve a stable electronic configuration (e.g., NaCl).
From the above, it is clear that the element with a valency of 3 is Nitrogen (N).

Therefore, among the given options, Nitrogen has a valency of 3.