Car airbags inflate when sodium azide, NaN3\mathrm{NaN_{3}}NaN3, decomposes to produce nitrogen gas.
2NaN3(s)→2Na(s)+3N2(g)\mathrm{2NaN_{3}(s)} \rightarrow \mathrm{2Na(s)} + \mathrm{3N_{2}(g)}2NaN3(s)→2Na(s)+3N2(g)
Nitrogen has atomic number 7.
Give the electronic configuration of a nitrogen atom.
Explain why the two atoms in a nitrogen molecule are joined by a triple covalent bond.
Determine the number of outer shell electrons in a nitrogen molecule that are not used in bonding.
Calculate the number of nitrogen molecules produced when 13.0 g of sodium azide decomposes. Relative atomic masses: Na = 23, N = 14. Avogadro constant = 6.02 × 1023 per mol
Nitrogen is very unreactive. Suggest a reason for this, using your answer to (b).
53 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 2.4 Covalent bonding, covering 2.4.1 Covalent bonding and simple molecules. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.