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Large difference between the melting and...

Large difference between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and sulphur can be explained.

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Due to small atomic size and high electronegativity, oxygen atom prefers to form `p pi-p pi` double bond with other oxygen atom forming diatomic oxygen `(O_(2))` molecule. In contrast due to bigger size and lower electronegativity, sulphur atom does not form `p pi-p pi` double bond with other sulphur atoms and hence does not exist as diatomic `(S_(2))` molecule. Instead, it prefers to form single bonds with other sulphur atoms. In other words, sulphur atom shows greater tendency for catenation than oxygen atom and hence exists as octa-atomic sulphur `(S_(8))` molecule. Due to much larger molecular size of `S_(8)` molecule as compared to `O_(2)` molecule, the van der Waals forces of attraction are much stronger in `S_(8)` molecules than in `O_(2)` molecules. As a result, there is a larger difference between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and sulphur.
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PRADEEP-P-BLOCK ELEMENTS -CONCEPTUAL QUESTION
  1. Why the compounds of fluorine with oxygen are called fluorides of oxyg...

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  2. (a) Sulphur has greater tendency for catenation than oxygen. Give reas...

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  3. Large difference between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and ...

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  4. SO(2) is reducing while TeO(2) is an oxidising agent. Give reasons.

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  5. SF(6) is known but SH(6) is not known. Explain.

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  6. SF(6) is known but SC(6) is not. Why?

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  7. H(2)S acts only as a reducing agent while SO(2) acts as an oxidising a...

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  8. H(2)S is a stronger acid than H(2)O. Explain

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  9. Give reasons for the following observations : Why SF(4) undergoes hy...

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  10. All the bonds in SF(4) are not equivalent. Why ?

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  11. Sulphur hexafluoride is used as a gaseous electrical insulator.

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  12. (a) Suggest a quantitative method for estimation of a gas which protec...

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  13. Sulphur disappears when boiled with an aqueous solution of sodium sulp...

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  14. Draw the structure of : SO(3)^(2-)

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  15. Give a chemical reaction in the support of the observation that sulphu...

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  16. Electron gain enthalpies of halogens are largely negative. Explain.

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  17. The negative value of electron gain enthalpy is less for fluorine than...

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  18. F2 has lower bond dissociation enthalpy than Cl2. Why?

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  19. I(2) is more soluble in KI than in water. Why ?

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  20. Why fluorine does not exhibit any positive oxidation state?

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