Question:medium

Electronegativity difference between a group 15 element and $\text{P}$ is less than electronegativity difference between another group 15 element and $\text{P}$. Those group 15 elements respectively are :

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Electronegativity decreases down a group. The element closest to $\text{P}$ in the group ($\text{As}$) will have the smallest $\text{EN}$ difference, while the element farthest ($\text{N}$) will have the largest $\text{EN}$ difference.
Updated On: Jan 27, 2026
  • $\text{Bi}, \text{N}$
  • $\text{Sb}, \text{As}$
  • $\text{Sb}, \text{Bi}$
  • $\text{N}, \text{As}$
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The question is testing the understanding of the concept of electronegativity in group 15 elements and their values relative to phosphorus (\(\text{P}\)). Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. In the periodic table, it generally increases across a period and decreases down a group.

The correct answer for this question is \(\text{Bi}, \text{N}\). Here's a step-by-step reasoning:

  1. Group 15 Elements: This group includes the following elements in order of increasing atomic number: Nitrogen (\(\text{N}\)), Phosphorus (\(\text{P}\)), Arsenic (\(\text{As}\)), Antimony (\(\text{Sb}\)), and Bismuth (\(\text{Bi}\)).
  2. Electronegativity Trend:
    • Electronegativity decreases down the group. Thus, \(\text{N}\) being at the top has the highest electronegativity, and \(\text{Bi}\) at the bottom has the lowest among these elements.
    • \(\text{P}\) is more electronegative than \(\text{Bi}\) but less than \(\text{N}\).
  3. Electronegativity Values:
    • \(\text{N}\) has an electronegativity of about 3.0.
    • \(\text{P}\) has an electronegativity of about 2.1.
    • \(\text{As}\) has an electronegativity of about 2.0.
    • \(\text{Sb}\) has an electronegativity of about 1.9.
    • \(\text{Bi}\) has an electronegativity of about 1.9.
  4. Comparison:
    • The electronegativity difference between \(\text{Bi}\) and \(\text{P}\) is approximately \(|1.9 - 2.1| = 0.2\).
    • The electronegativity difference between \(\text{N}\) and \(\text{P}\) is approximately \(|3.0 - 2.1| = 0.9\).
  5. Conclusion: The electronegativity difference between \(\text{Bi}\) and \(\text{P}\) is smaller than the difference between \(\text{N}\) and \(\text{P}\). Therefore, the group 15 elements matching the question description are indeed \(\text{Bi}\) and \(\text{N}\).

Thus, the correct answer is: \(\text{Bi}, \text{N}\).

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