Classification of Elements Part 2

Concept:Electronegativity in Group 15 decreases down the group. The drop from N to P is large, but below P the values change very slowly.Explanation:Pauling electronegativity values (approximate):$EN(N) = 3.0$, $EN(P) = 2.1$, $EN(As) = 2.0$, $EN(Sb) = 1.9$, $EN(Bi) = 1.9$.The given condition is: $|EN(X) - EN(P)| > |EN(P) - EN(Y)|$.This means X must have electronegativity far from P, while Y must have electronegativity close to P.Check each option:Option A: X = As, Y = Bi. Differences: $|2.0 - 2.1| = 0.1$ and $|2.1 - 1.9| = 0.2$. $0.1 > 0.2$? No.Option B: X = Bi, Y = N. Differences: $|1.9 - 2.1| = 0.2$ and $|2.1 - 3.0| = 0.9$. $0.2 > 0.9$? No.Option C: X = N, Y = As. Differences: $|3.0 - 2.1| = 0.9$ and $|2.1 - 2.0| = 0.1$. $0.9 > 0.1$? Yes. Correct.Option D: X = As, Y = Sb. Differences: $|2.0 - 2.1| = 0.1$ and $|2.1 - 1.9| = 0.2$. $0.1 > 0.2$? No.Thus, X = N and Y = As.Shortcut:For Group 15, the electronegativity drops sharply from N to P but then decreases very little. So X must be N (far from P) and Y must be an element just below P (As) with nearly equal electronegativity.Answer:Option C: N & As