Nitrogen and phosphorus are Group 5 elements, but nitrogen forms only three bonds, while phosphorus can form up to five. What accounts for the ability of phosphorus to form more bonds?

MCQS on the chemistry, properties, and reactivity of metal-containing compounds. Topics include atomic structure and electron configurations, bonding theories, ionic bonding, ionic solids and packing structures, band theory, alloys, semiconductors, and superconductors, inorganic acids and bases, and the properties and compounds of Group 1-7 elements.