NTA Abhyas JEE Main2020ChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructurePractice
In case of nitrogen, N C l 3 is possible but not N C l 5 while in case of phosphorous, P C l 3 as well as P C l 5 are possible. It is due to
Options
- AAvailability of vacant d orbitals in P but not in N
- BLower electronegativity of P than N
- CLower tendency of H-bond formation in P than N
- DOccurrence of P in solid while N in gaseous state at room temperature.
Correct answer
A. Availability of vacant d orbitals in P but not in N
Step-by-step solution
N 7 = 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 3 ; P 15 = 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 s 2 3 p 3 In phosphorous the 3d-orbitals are available. Hence phosphorus can form pentahalides also but nitrogen cannot form pentahalide due to absence of d-orbitals.