Ask a Teacher
why is molecular nitrogen inert? |
Molecular nitrogen is relatively nonreactive due to its strongest bond .Nitrogen gas is chemically non reactive at ordinary temperature . The non reactivity of nitrogen is due to (a) its small size (b) its high bond order .The nitrogen atom-nitrogen atom bond in the N2 molecule has a formal triple bond character The N= N bond distance is 109.8 pm and is very stable .The N= N bond dissociation is 946kJ/mol. N2 (g) + 946 kJ___________>2N(g) The dissociation constant is extremely very small and even at 3000K there is no appreciable dissociation .This indicated the strength of the N= N |