Question

Why nitrogen is gas and diatomic but phosphorus is solid?

Answer 1

nitrogen is gas because it forms triple bond between two nitrogen molecules and phosphorus is solid because it forms bond between more than two phosphorus molecules
I hope this helps you

Answer 2

$\huge\textbf{Answer}$


In Nitrogen; small size 2p orbital. So, sideways overlap effectively and make Pπ-Pπ multiple bond. Hence Nitrogen is diatomic.

Whereas in Phosphorus; large sized 3p orbital doesn't effectively overlaps sideways and makes only sigma bond. Hence; Phosphorus is tetratomic.