Question

State True or False.
Nitrogen reacts with water to give nitrous oxide.
A.True
B.False

Answer 1

Nitrogen is a chemical element that belongs to group 15 of the periodic table and it is a p-block element. The atomic number of nitrogen is 7 and its electronic configuration is $1{s^2}2{s^2}2{p^3}$. Nitrogen is diatomic. The two nitrogen atoms are bonded together strongly by sharing three electron pairs.
$N \equiv N$

Complete step by step answer:
Nitrogen is a non-polar species whereas water is a polar solvent so non-polar species like nitrogen will be insoluble in it. However, some definite amount of nitrogen $\left( {{N_2}} \right)$ will dissolves in a given amount of water at a given temperature, because these gases have $\pi - electrons$ which are more influenced to polar environment and this induces some amount of degree of polarity in them, making them slightly soluble in water. Hence, nitrogen does not react with water.
Nitrogen does not react with water but compounds of nitrogen such as ammonia, nitrates react with water
Therefore, the given statement is false.
Hence, the correct option is (B).

Note:
The main points of difference between nitrogen and the rest of the family members:
Nitrogen is a gas while the other family members like phosphorus, arsenic etc. are solids.
Other elements form tetra-atomic molecules such as ${P_4}\,,\,A{s_4}\, and \,S{b_4}$, involving the sharing of only one electron pair between any two atoms of the elements concerned.
Because of its high electronegativity, nitrogen is distinctly non-metallic while the other two members $\left( {As,Sb} \right)$ are metalloids and bismuth is distinctly a metal.
Hydride of nitrogen $\left( {N{H_3}} \right)$ is stable. The hydrides of other elements are not stable.
Nitrogen forms oxides such as ${N_2}O\,,\,NO\,,{N_2}{O_4}$. No such oxides are formed by other elements.