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)

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.