Group 5A ✏ Chemistry In a Nutshell




Group 5 Atoms Summary

General Characteristics

  • Elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Bismuth (Bi)
  • Electron Configuration: ns²np³
  • Metallic Character:
    • Nonmetals: N, P
    • Metalloids: As, Sb
    • Metal: Bi


Element Breakdown

Nitrogen (N)

  • Nonmetal
  • Reactivity with Oxygen: Forms various oxides:
    • NO (Nitric Oxide)
    • N₂O (Nitrous Oxide)
    • NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)
    • N₂O₄ (Dinitrogen Tetroxide)
    • N₂O₅ (Dinitrogen Pentoxide)
  • Forms the Nitride Ion (N³⁻) by gaining three electrons.

Phosphorus (P)

  • Nonmetal
  • Exists as P₄ (Tetrahedral Allotrope).
  • Reactivity with Oxygen:
    • Forms P₄O₆ or P₄O₁₀.
    • P₄O₁₀ reacts with water to form Phosphoric Acid (H₃PO₄).

Arsenic (As) & Antimony (Sb)

  • Metalloids
  • Exhibit both metallic and nonmetallic behavior.

Bismuth (Bi)

  • Metal
  • Least reactive among Group 5A elements.


Key Trends & Properties

  1. Metallic Character Increases Down the Group:

    • N, P → Nonmetals
    • As, Sb → Metalloids
    • Bi → Metal
  2. Oxidation States:

    • Commonly -3, +3, +5.
    • Nitrogen prefers -3 (forms N³⁻).
    • Bismuth prefers +3 due to the inert pair effect.
  3. Reactivity with Oxygen:

    • Nitrogen forms multiple oxides.
    • Phosphorus forms P₄O₆ and P₄O₁₀, which leads to phosphoric acid.


In a nutshell

  • N, P → Nonmetals
  • As, Sb → Metalloids
  • Bi → Metal

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