Question

Among chalcogens S have maximum catenation properties.Give suitable reason​

Answer 1

Among Chalcogens , Sulphur (S) has highest catenation property because of the following reasons:

• Sulphur is comparatively larger than oxygen and has a high S-S bond enthalpy of approximately 213 kJ/mol.

• But Oxygen molecules are smaller and has lower O-O bond enthalpy of approximately 184 kJ/mol.

• Oxygen being smaller in size experiences a large electron-electron repulsion , whereas the bond length of S-S is big enough to prevent significant repulsion.

Because of these reasons , Sulphur has higher catenation property as compared to the other Chalcogens (especially Oxygen).

In nature Sulphur exists as S8 molecule because of this property.