The number of electrons present in the penultimate shell of nitrogen is

To determine the number of electrons in the penultimate shell of nitrogen, let us first consider its electronic configuration.

The atomic number of nitrogen is 7, which indicates that it has 7 electrons. These electrons are distributed among the shells in the following configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p³. Here, the first shell (1s) contains 2 electrons, and the second shell (2s and 2p combined) contains 5 electrons.

The term "penultimate shell" refers to the second-to-last shell in an atom. For nitrogen, which has only two shells, the first shell is considered the penultimate shell. Since the first shell can accommodate a maximum of 2 electrons, nitrogen’s penultimate shell contains exactly 2 electrons.

Thus, the number of electrons in the penultimate shell of nitrogen is 2. This concept is critical in understanding atomic structures, especially when analyzing elements with more than two shells.

In summary, the electronic configuration helps us identify that the penultimate shell of nitrogen is the first shell, and it holds exactly 2 electrons. This distribution ensures that nitrogen adheres to the principles of electronic configuration and stability.