The large difference between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and sulphur may be explained on the basis of
- (A)Atomic size
- (B)Atomicity✓ Correct
- (C)Electronegativity
- (D)Electron gain enthalpy
Answer: (B)
Solution
Oxygen exists as the diatomic molecule (atomicity 2), whereas sulphur exists as the cyclic molecule (atomicity 8) under normal conditions.
Melting and boiling points depend on the strength of the van der Waals forces between molecules, which scale with molecular size and mass. The much larger, more polarisable molecule experiences far stronger van der Waals attractions than the small molecule, so considerably more thermal energy is needed to melt or vaporise sulphur.
The large gap between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and sulphur is explained by this difference in atomicity.
Melting and boiling points depend on the strength of the van der Waals forces between molecules, which scale with molecular size and mass. The much larger, more polarisable molecule experiences far stronger van der Waals attractions than the small molecule, so considerably more thermal energy is needed to melt or vaporise sulphur.
The large gap between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and sulphur is explained by this difference in atomicity.
JEE Main · 2025 · 24 Jan 2025 · Shift 1 · Single correct option