Group 15 Elements

VA group elements are Nitrogen (N) (7), Phosphorus (P) (15), Arsenic (As) (33), Antimony (Sb) (51), Bismuth (Bi) (83). These elements are called as pnicogens. Their compounds are called pnictides.

These are p-Block elements with ns²np³ configuration. As the p orbitals in the outermost shells are half-filled these elements are stable.

Nitrogen is a gas, P, As, Sb and Bi are solids. Nitrogen and Phosphorus are non-metals, Arsenic and antimony are metalloids and Bismuth is a metal.

Atomic size increases from Nitrogen to Bismuth, less increase from As to Bi is because of less shielding effect of (n-1)d electrons.