JEE Advanced · 2008 · 13 Apr 2008 · Paper 1 · p-Block Elements

There are some deposits of nitrates and phosphates in earth's crust. Nitrates are more soluble in water. Nitrates are difficult to reduce under the laboratory conditions but microbes do it easily. Ammonia forms large number of complexes with transition metal ions. Hybridization easily explains the ease of sigma donation capability of ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{PH}}_3$. Phosphine is a flammable gas and is prepared from white phosphorous.

Among the following, the correct statement is
(A) Between ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{PH}}_3$, ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ is a better electron donor because the lone pair of electrons occupies spherical 's' orbital and is less directional
(B) Between ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{PH}}_3$, ${\mathrm{PH}}_3$ is a better electron donor because the lone pair of electrons occupies ${\mathrm{sp}}^3$ orbital and is more directional
(C) Between ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{PH}}_3$, ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ is a better electron donor because the lone pair of electrons occupies ${\mathrm{sp}}^3$ orbital and is more directional
(D) Between ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$ and ${\mathrm{PH}}_3$, ${\mathrm{PH}}_3$ is a better electron donor because the lone pair of electrons occupies spherical 's' orbital and is less directional