Question

Give the number of protons and electrons in (a) an \(\mathrm{N}_{2}\) molecule (identified in 1772 ). (b) an \(\mathrm{N}_{3}^{-}\) unit (synthesized in \(\left.1890\right)\). (c) an \(\mathrm{N}_{5}{ }^{+}\) unit (synthesized in \(\left.1999\right)\). (d) an \(\mathrm{N}_{5} \mathrm{~N}_{5}\) salt (a U.S. Air Force research team's synthesis project).

Short answer

Answer: In an N2 molecule, there are 14 protons and 14 electrons. In an N3- unit, there are 21 protons and 22 electrons. In an N5+ unit, there are 35 protons and 34 electrons. In each N5 unit of an N5 N5 salt, there are 35 protons and 35 electrons, making a total of 70 protons and 70 electrons in the entire salt.

Step-by-step solution

Finding protons and electrons in an N2 molecule

An N2 molecule consists of two nitrogen atoms. Since each nitrogen atom has 7 protons, the N2 molecule has 2 * 7 = 14 protons. Since each nitrogen atom also has 7 electrons, the N2 molecule has a total of 2 * 7 = 14 electrons.

Finding protons and electrons in an N3- unit

An N3- ion is composed of three nitrogen atoms and has a charge of -1. Each nitrogen atom has 7 protons, so the N3- ion has 3 * 7 = 21 protons. Since the ion has a -1 charge, meaning it has one extra electron, it has 3 * 7 + 1 = 22 electrons.

Finding protons and electrons in an N5+ unit

An N5+ ion is composed of five nitrogen atoms and has a charge of +1. Each nitrogen atom has 7 protons, so the N5+ ion has 5 * 7 = 35 protons. Since the ion has a +1 charge, meaning it has one less electron, it has 5 * 7 - 1 = 34 electrons.

Finding protons and electrons in an N5 N5 salt

An N5 N5 salt is composed of two N5 units. Each N5 unit has a total of 5 * 7 = 35 protons and 5 * 7 = 35 electrons. In a salt, the positive and negative charges balance out. Since the question does not specify the charges of the N5 units in the salt, we can only report the protons and electrons in each N5 unit: 35 protons and 35 electrons. In total, the N5 N5 salt has 70 protons and 70 electrons.