Question

Why does nitrogen show catenation tendency less than phosphorus?

Answer 1

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Nitrogen shows catenation tendency less than phosphorous because N - N single bond is weaker than P - P single bond.

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Answer 2

Answer:

Catenation is much more common in phosphorous compounds than in nitrogen compounds. This is because of the relative weakness of the N−N single bond as compared to the P−P single bond. Since nitrogen atom is smaller, there is greater repulsion of electron density of two nitrogen atoms, thereby weakening the N−N single bond.