Final answer:
Nitrogen typically forms three covalent bonds, as it has five valence electrons and needs three more to reach an octet, often seen in the nitrogen molecule (N2) where a triple bond is present(option c).
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of covalent bonds an element can form is usually predicted based on its need to reach an octet in its valence shell. For nitrogen, the element has five valence electrons; it requires three more electrons to fulfill the octet rule. Therefore, a nitrogen atom typically forms three covalent bonds by sharing three pairs of electrons with other atoms, such as in the nitrogen molecule (N₂) where two nitrogen atoms share three pairs, resulting in a triple bond.