Question
Why does nitrogen show catenation properties less than carbon and phosphorus?
Solution
Nitrogen has a very little tendency to show catenation as N—N bond is very weak because of the repulsion in the electron pairs on the nitrogen atom. Nitrogen forms a chain of two atoms as in N≡ N, hydrazine H2N—NH2 and of three atoms as in azide ion, N3–. Carbon can form a chain of several carbon atoms. The change in behaviour in carbon and nitrogen is due to weakness of the N—N single bond which in turn may be due to repulsion between lone pair of electrons on the two adjacent nitrogen atoms.
Phosphorus exists as discrete tetra atomic (P4).
Phosphorus exists as discrete tetra atomic (P4).
