Question
Nitrogen does not form pentahalides. Give reason.

Answer

The electronic configuration of $7N$ is $1s^2 2s^2 2p^3.$ It has $3$ unpaired electrons which can form $3$ covalent bonds, thus forming $NX_3$ molecule.
Valence shell of nitrogen $(n = 2)$ contains only $s$ and $p$ orbitals.
Thus, due to the absence of $d$ orbitals in the valence shell, nitrogen cannot expand its octet, therefore, it cannot form compounds like $NCl_5$ and $NF_5.$
Hence, nitrogen does not form pentahalides.

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