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Oxygen has a higher boiling point than nitrogen presumably because of the greater polarizability of Oxygen. Yet, Nitrogen has a higher melting point than oxygen.
I'm not sure why.
Here's my best attempt: Nitrogen has shorter bonds, so it may form a crystal lattice that is more stable than oxygen. The closer packing of the nitrogen allows for a greater interactions between the london-disperson forces.
Can anyone comment if this might be a good explanation?
I'm not sure why.
Here's my best attempt: Nitrogen has shorter bonds, so it may form a crystal lattice that is more stable than oxygen. The closer packing of the nitrogen allows for a greater interactions between the london-disperson forces.
Can anyone comment if this might be a good explanation?
