--%>

Describe characteristics of halides and oxides.

Halides characteristics

(i) These trihalides are mainly covalent with the exception of BiF3 which is ionic.

(ii) The ionic character of trihalides increases in going down the group.

(iii) Like hydrides, these trihalides have pyramidal structure.

(iv) These trihalides except NX3 can be easily hydrolysed by water.

The inability of trihalides of N to hydrolyse is attributed to the non-availability of vacant d-orbitals in nitrogen.

(v) The trihalides of P, As, Sb (especially fluorides and chlorides) act as Lewis acids and combine with Lewis bases

PF3 + F2  1973_halides and oxides.png  PF5

SbF3 + 2F-  1973_halides and oxides.png   [SbF5]
2-

(vi) The pentahalides in general, have less thermal stability as compared to trihalides.

(vii) All the pentahalides act as Lewis acids. It is because the central atom can easily accept the halide ions due to presence of vacant d-orbital and can extend their co-ordination number.

(viii) PCl5 exists as molecule in gaseous state but in solid state it exists as [PCl4]+[PCl6]- and is ionic in nature. PBr5PI5 also exists in the ionic form in solid state.

Reactivity towards oxygen: the elements of this group combine with oxygen directly or indirectly to form a large number of different types of oxides.

Nature of oxides

All the oxides of nitrogen except NO and N2O and phosphorus are strongly acidic: oxides of arsenic are weakly acidic; oxides of antimony are amphoteric and those of bismuth are weakly basic.

Reason: the change in character from acidic to basic can be explained on the basis of the size of atoms. As the size of nitrogen atom is small and it has a strong positive field, it interacts with water more strongly pulling the electron pair between O - H bond and thus release of H+ ions.

However, this tendency diminishes with the increase in size and therefore decreases the acidic character or conversely increases the basic character.

As far as the stability of the oxides is connected it is found that oxides having elements in the higher oxidation state become less stable as we move down to group. This is because of the import pair effect.

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Einsteins mass energy relation In

    In Einstein’s mass energy relation e = mc2 for what is c employed or why is light needed for the reactions. As the reactions are with the help of neutrons?

  • Q : Mass percent Help me to go through this

    Help me to go through this problem. 10 grams of a solute is dissolved in 90 grams of a solvent. Its mass percent in solution is : (a) 0.01 (b) 11.1 (c)10 (d) 9

  • Q : What is protein in Chemistry Illustrate

    Illustrate what is protein in Chemistry?

  • Q : Coordination compounds discuss

    discuss practical uses of coordination compounds

  • Q : Problem on solutions The 2N aqueous

    The 2N aqueous solution of H2S04 contains: (a) 49 gm of H2S04 per litre of solution (b) 4.9 gm of H2S04 per litre of solution (c) 98 gm of H2S04

  • Q : What is covalent radii? Explain its

    Average covalent radii can be assigned on the basis of molecular structures. The accumulation of structural data by spectroscopic studies and both electron and x-ray diffraction studies allows one to investigate the possibili

  • Q : Molecular Symmetry Types The number of

    The number of molecular orbitals and molecular motions of each symmetry type can be deduced. Let us continue to use the C2v point group and the H2O molecule to illustrate how the procedure develop

  • Q : Relative lowering in vapour pressure of

    Give me answer of this question. "Relative lowering in vapour pressure of solution containing non-volatile solute is directly proportional to mole fraction of solute". Above statement is: (a) Henry law (b) Dulong and Petit law (c) Raoult's law (d) Le-Chatelier's pri

  • Q : Microwave Adsorption The absorption of

    The absorption of microwave radiation increases the rotational energy of molecules and gives information about the moment of inertia of the molecules.Now we can begin the study of the spectroscopy that explores the different ways in which the energy of the

  • Q : Carnot cycle show how a mathematical

    show how a mathematical definition of entropy can be obtauined from a consideration of carnot cycle?