Question

Nitrogen and oxygen exist as diatomic but their cogeners are $P _{4}$ and $S _{8}$ respectively. This is due to

• A. phosphorus and sulphur are solids
• B. phosphorus and sulphur polymerise as soon as they are formed
• C. phosphorus and sulphur catenate due to the existence of d-orbitals and form strainless structures
• D. none of these

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

phosphorus and sulphur catenate due to the existence of d-orbitals and form strainless structures

Answer 2

As nitrogen and oxygen atoms are small and highly electronegative with no vacant d-orbitals available for bonding multiple bonds are formed between oxygen-oxygen and nitrogen-nitrogen atoms. N = N O $=$ O As the size of P and S atoms is large so multiple bonds are not strong enough, also catenation is possible due to vacant d-orbitals.