Statement-1 : At room temperature oxygen exists as a diatomic gas, where as sulphur exists as solid.
Statement-2 : The catenated `-O-O-O-` chains are less stable as compared to `O=O` molecule.

Options

A. If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion
B. If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
C. If assertion is true but reason is false
D. If the assertion and reason both are false.

Answer

A

Explanation

Assertion: Oxygen exists as a diatomic gas `O_2` , whereas sulphur exists as `S_8` molecule which is solid at room temperature.
Reason : The bond energy of oxygen–oxygen double bond (O=O) is quite large than that of (O-O) (single bond). Sulphur has valence d–orbitals, so it can show catenation and form chains of multiple single bonds -S-S-S-. Hence reason is the correct explanation of assertion.