Question

Why does nitrogen show catenation properties less than phosphorus?

Answer 1

Hint: Nitrogen and phosphorus are from the same group, i.e., group 15, the nitrogen is the first element of the group and the phosphorus is the second element of this group. The size increases down the group, and the catenation can be related to the size of the atom.

Complete step-by-step answer:Catenation is a process in which the atom has the ability to combine with itself and with other atoms. In the periodic table, the carbon atom has the highest ability to show the property of the catenation.
As we know that Nitrogen and phosphorus are from the same group, i.e., group 15, nitrogen is the first element of the group, and phosphorus is the second element of this group. We also know that the size of the atoms increases down the group which means that the size of the nitrogen atom is smaller than the size of the phosphorus atom.
Now, the size of the nitrogen atom is small, its bond is weak because when the size is small the electrons are very close with each other due to which the repulsion occurs between the electrons and the bond becomes weak. But the size of the phosphorus atom is bigger due to which the repulsion between the electrons reduces and the bond becomes stronger. Due to this stronger bond, phosphorus shows more catenation than the nitrogen atom.

Note:The bond between the nitrogen atoms is a triple bond and the bond between the phosphorus atom is a single due to which the reactivity of the phosphorus is more than the nitrogen atom.