Chapter 7, Problem 7.96PAE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

There is a need of engineering solutions for managing nitrogen for agricultural purposes, even when there is a huge amount of nitrogen is available in the atmosphere. Explain the need of management for the biochemical cycle needs using the nature of the chemical bond in diatomic nitrogen.

Concept Introduction:

In the atmosphere, the nitrogen exists as a diatomic molecule ( ${\text{N}}_{\text{2}}$ ). The bond formed between the two nitrogen atoms is non-polar covalent in nature. This is because both the nitrogen atoms are the same and thus the electronegativity difference between the atoms is zero. This results in the mutual and equal sharing of electrons between the two nitrogen atoms.

Nitrogen has atomic number 7, thus the electronic configuration of nitrogen is ${\text{1s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{2s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{2p}}^{\text{3}}$. When the nitrogen atom is in an excited state, the electronic configuration becomes ${\text{1s}}^{\text{2}}{\text{2s}}^{\text{1}}{\text{2p}}^{\text{4}}$. One $\text{s}$ orbital mix with $\text{p}$ orbital to form $\text{sp}$ hybridized orbitals.