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

Question

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, Availability of vacant d orbitals in P but not in N, Lower electronegativity of P than N, Lower tendency of H-bond formation in P than N, Occurrence of P in solid while N in gaseous state at room temperature.

MARKS App · Accepted Answer

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.

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