Direction (Q. No. 21) This section is based on Statement I and Stateme...
P— P single bo nd in P
4 molecule is much weaker
(213 kJ mol
-1) than
triple bond (941.4 kJ mol
-1) in N
2.
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Direction (Q. No. 21) This section is based on Statement I and Stateme...
Statement I: N2 is less reactive than P4.
Statement II: Nitrogen has more electron gain enthalpy than phosphorus.
Explanation:
Reactivity of elements depends on various factors such as their electronic configuration, atomic size, and electronegativity.
Reactivity of Nitrogen (N2):
- Nitrogen (N2) is a diatomic molecule with a triple bond between two nitrogen atoms.
- The triple bond is very strong, making it difficult to break and react with other substances.
- Nitrogen is relatively unreactive compared to other elements because it requires a large amount of energy to break the triple bond and initiate a reaction.
Reactivity of Phosphorus (P4):
- Phosphorus (P4) is also a diatomic molecule with a covalent bond between four phosphorus atoms.
- The bond between the phosphorus atoms is not as strong as the triple bond in nitrogen.
- Phosphorus is more reactive than nitrogen and readily reacts with oxygen, halogens, and other elements to form compounds.
Electron Gain Enthalpy:
- Electron gain enthalpy is the energy released when an atom gains an electron to form a negative ion.
- It is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract and gain electrons.
- Higher electron gain enthalpy indicates a greater tendency to gain electrons and form negative ions.
Comparison of Nitrogen and Phosphorus:
- Nitrogen has a smaller atomic size and higher electronegativity compared to phosphorus.
- Both factors contribute to the higher electron gain enthalpy of nitrogen.
- Nitrogen has a relatively high electron gain enthalpy, which means it has a greater tendency to gain electrons and form a negative ion.
- Phosphorus has a lower electron gain enthalpy compared to nitrogen, indicating a lower tendency to gain electrons.
Conclusion:
Based on the given statements, Statement I is correct as nitrogen is less reactive than phosphorus. However, Statement II is incorrect as nitrogen has a higher electron gain enthalpy than phosphorus. Therefore, the correct answer is option C.