Question

Explain why Nitrogen is much less reactive than phosphorous?

Answer 1

Reason for: Nitrogen is less reactive than Phosphorous

• Due to the high value of bond strength of molecular Nitrogen (${\mathrm{N}}_2$), Nitrogen is much less reactive than Phosphorous (P).
• In the molecule of Nitrogen, the two nitrogen atoms form a triple bond.
  $\mathrm{N}\equiv \mathrm{N}$
• This triple bond has very high bond strength, which is very difficult to break.
• It is because of Nitrogen’s small size that it is able to form $\mathrm{p\pi }-\mathrm{p\pi }$ bonds with itself.
• The molecule of Phosphorous exists as ${\mathrm{P}}_4$.
• The four Phosphorous atoms are combined by a single bond.
• A single bond has less bond strength than a triple bond.
• Due to less value of bond strength of molecular Phosphorous (${\mathrm{P}}_4$), Phosphorous is more reactive than Nitrogen.

Hence, the high bond strength value in the molecule (${\mathrm{N}}_2$) leads to a less reactive nature of Nitrogen than Phosphorous.