Question 31

Q32Short answer

Nitrogen has positive electron gain enthalpy whereas oxygen has negative. However, oxygen has lower ionisation enthalpy than nitrogen. Explain.

Show answer

The outermost electronic configuraton of nitrogen (2s2 2px1 2py1 2pz1) is very stable because p-orbital is half filled. Addition of extra electron to any of the 2p orbital requires energy. Oxygen has 4 electrons in 2p orbitals and acquires stable configuration i.e., 2p3 configuration after removing one electron.