Nitrogen Group (Group 5) Trends
- Page ID
- 68239
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Summary of Nitrogen Group (Group VA) Trends:
- Nitrogen forms very strong multiple pπ-pπ bonds to itself and neighboring elements belonging to the same row, e.g., CN-, N2, NO+. Compounds of P, As, and Bi with multiple bonds may be obtained if large groups are introduced into the molecules, e.g., P2R2 and As2R2. Similar multiply bonded compounds of Sb are not known.
- The coordination numbers increase down the group. For nitrogen, 3 and 4 coordination predominate. Phosphorous and arsenic in addition form octahedral complexes, and higher coordination numbers are observed for Sb and Bi.
5. Increased metallic character
- The elements become increasingly metallic down the column in their chemical and physical properties. Down the group the oxo cations, e.g., SbO+ and BiO+, become more prevalent.
6. The oxides become more basic down the column.
- Phosphorous and arsenic oxides are acidic, antimony oxide is amphoteric, and that of bismuth is basic.
- For nitrogen the N3- ion is well established in the ionic nitrides of the electropositive elements. The anionic derivatives of the heavier elements frequently retain element-element bonds, e.g., Sb42-, Bi42-, Sb73-, and As113-.
10. The donor/acceptor behavior of R3M:
- Donor/Lewis base ability: N < P > As > Sb > Bi
- Steric effects: N > P ~ As > Sb > Bi and increase with bulk of substituents: PR3 > PR2H > PRH2 > PH3
- π-acidity: R3P > R3As > R3Sb > R3Bi
- Lewis acidity of the +5 fluorides: PF5 > AsF5 > SbF5
- In the +5 oxidation state, PF5 is not readily hydrolyzed, AsF5 hydrolyses, SbF5 reacts vigorously with water. BiF5 reacts explosively with water. In the +3 oxidation state, NF3 is unreactive, PF3 reacts only with OH- not OH2, AsF3 and SbF3 are soluble in water, and BiF3 is insoluble in water but soluble in inorganic acids.
| N | P | As | Sb | Bi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF5 | unknown | stable | stable | stable | stable |
| ECl5 | unknown | stable | known but unstable | stable | unknown |
| EBr5 | unknown | stable | unknown | stable | unknown |
| EI5 | unknown | stable | unknown | stable | unknown |
| EF3 | stable | stable | stable | stable | stable |
| ECl3 | known but unstable | stable | stable | stable | stable |
| EBr3 | known but unstable | stable | stable | stable | stable |
| EI3 | known but unstable | stable | stable | stable | stable |
- The + 5 oxidation state halides are unknown for N, well defined for P, only stable for As as fluoride, well defined for the fluoride and chloride of antimony, and only known for the fluoride for Bi.
- For both oxidation states the stability order is F > Cl . Br >I as anticipated by the ordering of the mean enthalpies, i.e., fluoride forms the strongest bonds and iodine the weakest.
- The oxides show a similar trend. BiV and NV oxides and oxoacids are strongly oxidizing, whereas PV oxides and oxoacids are very stable and AsV and SbV oxides and oxoacids are mildly oxidizing.