Group 15 The Nitrogen Family

Group 16 The Oxygen Family 22-5 Group 15 The Nitrogen Family 22-6 Hydrogen A Unique Element... 

Two families of complexes having either exocyclic chirality borne by the nitrogen atoms (79,81,82) or endocycUc chirality (f-butyl groups) relayed by benzyUc groups on the nitrogen atoms (83, 84) were tested in the optimized conditions (Fig. 15). 

Nitrogen is the first member in Group 15 (VA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to one another. Nitrogen is in a family group named after itself Other elements in the nitrogen family are phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. 

Bismuth, Bi, the 83rd element of the periodic table is the most metallic and the least abundant of the elements in the nitrogen family (group 15). It has an atomic mass of 208.980 and a ground state electronic configuration of [Xe] 4f 5d %s 6p. The bismuth atom usually utilizes the three 6p electrons in bond formation and retains the two 6s electrons as an inert pair, hence the oxidation state -1-3 exhibited by bismuth in the vast majority of its compounds. However, a variety of organobismuth compounds can contain the element in the -1-5 oxidation state. Coordination numbers are 2, 3,4, 5 and 6. Bismuth not only has metallic characteristics but also exhibits many properties similar to those of semiconductors and insulators. Consequently, it is often classified as a semi-metal or metalloid. Bismuth compounds are usually colorless unless the metal is bound to a chromophore. 

It has already been emphasized that within a family of non transition elements, metallic character increases with increase in atomic number, atomic weight, and atomic size. There is no better illustration of this trend than Periodic Group Vb the lightest members of the group, nitrogen (Z = 7), and phosphorus (Z — 15), are typical nonmetals, whereas the heaviest member, bismuth (Z = 83) is a typical metal. The remaining members, arsenic (Z = 33) and antimony (Z 51) are intermediate in character and are often appropriately called metalloids. 

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