Noting Pnictides of the Nitrogen Group

1 As mentioned earlier in this chapter, there is an overall increase in the metallic character of the elements going down the period. 

1 Ionization energies increase sharply upon the removal of the p electrons. 

1 Enthalpy of atomization decreases steadily going down the group (similar to the boron and carbon groups described earlier). 

Nitrogen is a typical nonmetal, but bismuth at the end of the group is a typical metal. 

The ionization energies decrease steadily as the atomic number increases going down the period (or column) in the nitrogen group. 

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