* Electron Configuration: Nitrogen has 5 electrons in its outer shell (2s² 2p³).

* Octet Rule: Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration of 8 electrons in their outer shell (the octet rule).

* Bonding: Nitrogen needs to gain three more electrons to complete its octet. It can do this by forming three covalent bonds with other atoms, sharing one electron from each bond.

Examples:

* In ammonia (NH₃), nitrogen forms three single bonds with three hydrogen atoms.

* In nitrogen gas (N₂), two nitrogen atoms form a triple bond with each other.