The large difference between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and sulphur may be explained on the basis of:

(a) Atomic size \quad (b) Atomicity \quad (c) Electronegativity \quad (d) Electron

Question

The large difference between the melting and boiling points of oxygen and sulphur may be explained on the basis of:

(a) Atomic size \quad (b) Atomicity \quad (c) Electronegativity \quad (d) Electron gain enthalpy

Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

Key concept — Atomicity:

- Oxygen:  (atomicity = 2, diatomic molecule)
- Sulphur:  (atomicity = 8, crown-shaped ring)

Effect on melting/boiling points:

The larger the molecule, the stronger the van der Waals (London dispersion) forces.

has a much larger molecular mass and surface area than :
- 
-

This leads to significantly stronger intermolecular forces in sulphur → much higher melting point () and boiling point () compared to oxygen (mp = , bp = ).

The large difference is due to atomic

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