QJEEM25Cha813: JEE Main 2025 Chemistry - Class 12 JEEM25Cha813 Solution: The maximum covalency of a non-metallic group 15 element ' E '…

Among the group 15 elements (N, P, As, Sb, Bi), the lightest two (N and P) are commonly considered nonmetals. Of these, nitrogen (N) is known to have the weakest single bond to itself (N–N).

The N–N single‐bond enthalpy ( $\approx 160$ \,kJ/mol) is lower (weaker) than the P–P single‐bond enthalpy ( $\approx 200$ \,kJ/mol).

Therefore, the “nonmetallic group 15 element with the weakest E–E bond” is nitrogen.

Maximum Covalency of Nitrogen

Although nitrogen typically forms three covalent bonds in neutral compounds (e.g., $\mathrm{NH_3}$ ), it can expand to four bonds in certain cationic species such as ammonium $\mathrm{NH_4}^+$ or $\mathrm{NF_4}^+$ . In such species, nitrogen has a formal positive charge but is still forming four covalent bonds.

Hence, the maximum covalency of nitrogen is 4.

Answer: 4 (Option C).