Question

Nitrogen forms a pentahalide – True or False?

• A. False
• B. True

Answer 1

The correct option is A False

While pentahalides of elements like P, As and Sb are well known, there are no such counterparts for Nitrogen. It could be a direct result of Nitrogen atom’s small size and the absence of the d-orbitals.
Nitrogen forms a trifluoride which is stable. The other tri halides of Nitrogen - $NC{l}_3$, $NB{r}_3$ and $N{l}_3$ are all unstable and tend to be explosive. The remaining elements of group 15 form all possible trihalides.