Nitrogen(I) oxide is produced by: — p Block Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: During hydrolysis, the attack of water can occur either on the central atom (if it has vacant d-orbitals) or on the halogen atom. Step 2: In NCl3, nitrogen is more electronegative than chlorine and lacks vacant d-orbitals. Water attacks the chlorine atom (which has vacant d-orbitals), leading to the formation of ammonia (NH3) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) instead of an oxyacid of nitrogen (the central atom). Step 3: Consequently, NCl3 does not yield an oxyacid of the central atom (nitrogen) on hydrolysis, making (b) the correct option.