Electron Configuration of Nitrogen (N)
Nitrogen (N, Z = 7) has the electron configuration [He] 2s^2 2p^3, filling 2 shells with 2, 5 electrons.
This is the fast lane: one page, one fact, zero digressions. Read the quick answer, check the table, and if your exam needs the full derivation, the sections below walk through it step by step — in Bangla and English, like every page here. Need the whole picture instead — history, characteristics, uses, exam questions? The full Nitrogen page is one click away.
Nitrogen: every subshell, one by one
The table below unpacks [He] 2s^2 2p^3 line by line, so you can watch Nitrogen's 7 electrons take their seats in order of increasing energy.
| Subshell | Electrons | Total so far |
|---|---|---|
| [He] | 0 | 2 |
| 2s | 2 | 4 |
| 2p | 3 | 7 |
Electrons per shell (K, L, M…)
Grouped by principal quantum number instead of subshell, Nitrogen carries 2 in shell 1, 5 in shell 2. The outermost shell holds 5 electrons — the ones that do all the bonding.
How to derive it yourself
Follow the aufbau order (1s → 2s → 2p → 3s → 3p → 4s → 3d → …), pouring 7 electrons into orbitals of capacity 2 (s), 6 (p), 10 (d) and 14 (f) until none remain. Write the filled inner shells as the nearest noble-gas core — for Nitrogen that gives [He] 2s^2 2p^3.
Students also ask
How many electron shells does Nitrogen have?
Nitrogen is in period 2, so its electrons occupy 2 shells, holding 2, 5 electrons respectively.
How many valence electrons does Nitrogen have?
Its outermost shell holds 5 electrons, so Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons that take part in bonding.
What is the noble-gas shorthand for Nitrogen?
The shorthand form is exactly [He] 2s^2 2p^3.