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Choose the Best Answer · Q2

Q.Which is true regarding nitrogen?

(a) least electronegative element
(b) has low ionisation enthalpy than oxygen
(c) d-orbitals available
(d) ability to form pπ–pπ bonds with itself
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✓ Free question

Step 1. Test option (a).

Nitrogen is not the least electronegative element of its group or period — it is in fact highly electronegative (3.04 on the Pauling scale), third only to fluorine and oxygen among all elements. So (a) is false.

Step 2. Test option (b).

Nitrogen's 2p3 configuration is exactly half-filled, which is an extra-stable arrangement (symmetric distribution, exchange energy maximised). This gives nitrogen a HIGHER first ionisation enthalpy than oxygen (whose 2p4 configuration has one electron paired against the extra stability of the half-filled set), so (b), which claims nitrogen's ionisation enthalpy is lower than oxygen's, is false.

Step 3. Test option (c).

Nitrogen is a period-2 element (n = 2), and the n = 2 shell has no d subshell at all. So nitrogen never has d orbitals available, whereas phosphorus (n = 3) and heavier Group 15 members do. Option (c) is false.

Step 4. Test option (d).

Because nitrogen is so small, its 2p orbitals can achieve efficient sideways (π) overlap with another small nitrogen atom's 2p orbitals, allowing strong pπ-pπ multiple bonding — this is exactly what makes N≡N (dinitrogen) such a strong triple bond. Phosphorus and the heavier congeners are too large for effective p-p π overlap and instead favour single (sigma) bonds/catenation, as seen in the P4 tetrahedron. This is a genuinely distinguishing, true property of nitrogen.

✓Final answer

(d) — nitrogen's small size gives it a unique ability among Group 15 elements to form strong pπ–pπ multiple bonds with itself.

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