Praxis II Biology

Answer: C, Nitrogen can simultaneously form a single bond with 3 other atoms. This also means that nitrogen can form up to a triple bond with another atom, which is usually a second atom of nitrogen.

Key Takeaway: The number of bonds that an atom can form with other atoms is dependent on its valence, which is based on the number of atoms it has in its outer shell. Nitrogen has a valence of 5, meaning it has 5 electrons in its outer shell. This means that nitrogen needs three more electrons to fulfill the octet rule, making it possible to form up to three bonds with other atoms.