GROUP 15: NITROGEN GROUP

Nitrogen Group Overview

Also known as: Pnictogens

Elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Bismuth (Bi), Moscovium (Mc)

Common Properties: Five valence electrons (ns²np³), transition from nonmetals to metals down the group

N

Nitrogen

Atmospheric
Atomic Number 7
Atomic Mass 14.01 u
Electron Config [He] 2s² 2p³
Common Ions N³⁻
Melting Point -210°C
Density 1.25 g/L
Nitrogen makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere, but most organisms can't use it directly - it needs to be "fixed" by bacteria or industrial processes!

Properties: Colorless, odorless gas, diatomic (N₂), relatively inert

Applications: Fertilizers, explosives, food preservation, electronics

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P

Phosphorus

Reactive
Atomic Number 15
Atomic Mass 30.97 u
Electron Config [Ne] 3s² 3p³
Common Ions P³⁻, P⁵⁺
Melting Point 44°C
Density 1.82 g/cm³
White phosphorus glows in the dark and can spontaneously ignite in air - that's why it's stored underwater!

Properties: Multiple allotropes, highly reactive, essential for life

Applications: Fertilizers, detergents, matches, steel production

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As

Arsenic

Toxic
Atomic Number 33
Atomic Mass 74.92 u
Electron Config [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p³
Common Ions As³⁻, As³⁺, As⁵⁺
Melting Point 817°C
Density 5.73 g/cm³
Arsenic is famously poisonous, but it's also essential in tiny amounts for some animals and was historically used in medicines and cosmetics!

Properties: Metalloid, toxic, semiconductor

Applications: Semiconductors, wood preservatives, pesticides, alloys

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Sb

Antimony

Flame Retardant
Atomic Number 51
Atomic Mass 121.76 u
Electron Config [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p³
Common Ions Sb³⁺, Sb⁵⁺
Melting Point 631°C
Density 6.68 g/cm³
Antimony was used in ancient Egyptian cosmetics and is still used today to make flame-retardant materials!

Properties: Metalloid, brittle, silvery-white

Applications: Flame retardants, batteries, alloys, semiconductors

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Bi

Bismuth

Rainbow Metal
Atomic Number 83
Atomic Mass 208.98 u
Electron Config [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p³
Common Ions Bi³⁺
Melting Point 271°C
Density 9.78 g/cm³
Bismuth crystals have a beautiful rainbow coloring due to light interference on their oxide layer - and it's the most naturally diamagnetic element!

Properties: Dense, brittle metal, rainbow-colored oxide layer

Applications: Cosmetics, medicines, low-melting alloys, replacement for lead

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Mc

Moscovium

Synthetic
Atomic Number 115
Atomic Mass 288 u
Electron Config [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p³
Common Ions Mc⁺
Half-life ~0.65 seconds
Stability Synthetic
Moscovium is named after Moscow Oblast in Russia, where the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is located!

Properties: Synthetic, radioactive, extremely unstable

Applications: Scientific research only

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