The spatial arrangement of electron groups (bonding and non-bonding) around the central atoms in a molecule fundamentally determines its shape. In the case of dinitrogen, each nitrogen atom participates in a triple bond with the other. Considering this triple bond as a single electron group, and recognizing the absence of lone pairs on either nitrogen atom, the arrangement of electron groups around each nitrogen is linear.
Understanding this configuration is critical for predicting molecular properties such as polarity, reactivity, and intermolecular interactions. Knowing the arrangement of electron groups provides a foundation for understanding the molecule’s behavior in various chemical and physical processes. The concept has evolved from early structural theories developed to explain observed chemical behaviors.