Here's why:

* Electron Configuration: Nitrogen's electron configuration is 1s²2s²2p³.

* 2p Orbitals: The 2p subshell has three orbitals (2px, 2py, and 2pz). Each orbital can hold a maximum of two electrons.

* Filling Order: Electrons fill orbitals following Hund's rule, which states that electrons will occupy separate orbitals within a subshell before doubling up in any one orbital.

Therefore, nitrogen has one electron in each of its 2p orbitals, giving it a total of three 2p electrons.