Ques. 1JEE Main 2024, 29 January (Evening Shift)
Anomalous behavior of oxygen is due to its
- large size and low electronegativity
- small size and high electronegativity
- small size and low electronegativity
- large size and high electronegativity
Answer
(2) small size and high electronegativity
Solution
O is the first member of group 16: smallest atom, electronegativity 3.5 (next only to F), no d orbitals.
∵ small size + high electronegativity ⇒ H-bonding (H2O liquid, H2S gas), pπ–pπ bonding (O2 vs S8), covalency limited to 4
Answer: (2)