NTA Abhyas JEE Main2020Chemistryp Block Elements (Group 15, 16, 17 & 18)Practice
At 25 o C , nitrogen exists as N 2 and phosphorous exists as P 4 because
Options
- AN 2 has valence electrons only in bonding and nonbonding orbitals, while P has valence electrons in both bondi
- Bhigher electronegativity of N favours formation of multiple bonds
- Cbigger size of P does not favour multiple bonds
- DP has preference to adapt structures with small bond angles
Correct answer
C. bigger size of P does not favour multiple bonds
Step-by-step solution
Due to larger atomic size P is unable to form pi bond and so it is tetra-atomic P 4 in which each P atom is linked with 3 other P atoms by 3 sigma bonds. But, due to smaller atomic size N forms 1 sigma and 2 pi bonds i.e. triple bonds with other N atom and exists as diatomic molecule N 2 .