Final answer:
Two nitrogen atoms share six electrons in the form of a triple covalent bond to form a stable N2 molecule. This fulfills the octet rule for both nitrogen atoms, resulting in a stable electronic configuration.
Step-by-step explanation:
To form a stable N2 molecule, two nitrogen atoms must share a total of six electrons, forming a triple covalent bond. Each nitrogen atom has five electrons in its valence shell and needs three more electrons to complete its octet, achieving the stable electronic configuration of a noble gas. Therefore, three pairs of electrons must be shared between the two nitrogen atoms in a nitrogen molecule (N2).
The octet rule is paramount in predicting the stability of a molecule. It is evident in the nitrogen molecule just as it is in the formation of other molecules such as methane and water. In the case of methane (CH4), a carbon atom shares each of its four valence electrons with a hydrogen atom, forming four single covalent bonds, and in water (H2O), an oxygen atom shares one electron with each of two hydrogen atoms to complete its valence shell with eight electrons.