Why does nitrogen show catenation properties less than phosphorus?

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asked Dec 22, 2017 in Chemistry by sforrest072 (157,439 points) 61 410 949

Why does nitrogen show catenation properties less than phosphorus?

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answered Dec 22, 2017 by mdsamim (213,225 points) 5 10 15
selected Dec 22, 2017 by sforrest072
 
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Catenation is much more common in phosphorous compounds than in nitrogencompounds. 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.

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