The elements of Group 5A, the nitrogen family, form compounds with hydrogen that have the boiling points listed below.SbH₃ -17°C, AsH₃ -55°C, PH₃ -87°C, NH₃ -33°C
The first three elements illustrate a trend where the boiling point decreases as the mass decreases; however, ammonia (NH₃) does not follow the trend because of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The trend of decreasing boiling points with decreasing mass is due to a decrease in the strength of the hydrogen bond between the hydrogen and the Group 5A element. However, ammonia (NH₃) has a higher boiling point than expected because it is capable of forming hydrogen bonds between its nitrogen and hydrogen atoms. This is known as hydrogen bonding and is a stronger intermolecular force than the dipole-dipole attractions that occur in the other compounds.

The Elements of Group 5A, the Nitrogen Family, Form Compounds