Which of the following statements is wrong?

1. Single N—N bond is stronger than a single P—P bond.
2. PH3 can act as a ligand in the formation of coordination compound with transition elements.
3. NO2 is paramagnetic in nature.
4. Covalency of nitrogen in N2O5 is four.
 
 

 

Hint: Phosphorus forms allotropes but nitrogen does not.

The true statement is that a single N — N bond is weaker than a single P —P bond because of high interelectronic repulsion of the non-bonding electrons in N2, owing to the small bond length. This is why phosphorous shows allotropy but nitrogen does not. 

The bond energy of N-N is 167 kJ mol-1, and for P-P is 201 kJ mol-1.
 

(i) PH3, acts as a ligand in the formation of coordination compound due to the presence of lone pair of electrons.

(i) NO2 is paramagnetic in nature due to the presence of one unpaired electron. The structure of NO2 is

(li) Covalency of nitrogen in N2O5 is 4