Which of the following halides of nitrogen is expected to be most stable?

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${NCl}_{3}$

${NBr}_{3}$

${NF}_{3}$

${NI}_{3}$

answer is A.

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Detailed Solution

Among the nitrogen trihalides—NF₃, NCl₃, NBr₃, and NI₃—NF₃ (Nitrogen trifluoride) is the most stable. This stability arises from several factors:

Electronegativity of Fluorine: Fluorine is the most electronegative element, leading to strong N-F bonds in NF₃. This strong bonding contributes to the compound's stability.
Bond Strength: The N-F bond is shorter and stronger compared to N-Cl, N-Br, and N-I bonds. This results in a more stable molecular structure for NF₃.
Size and Polarizability of Halogens: As we move down the group in the periodic table, halogen atoms increase in size and polarizability. This leads to weaker N-X bonds in NCl₃, NBr₃, and NI₃, making them less stable than NF₃.

In summary, NF₃ is the most stable nitrogen trihalide due to the strong N-F bonds resulting from fluorine's high electronegativity and the smaller atomic size compared to other halogens.

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