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General trends in chemicalproperties of group − 15
(i) Reactivitytowards hydrogen:
The elements of group 15 reactwith hydrogen to form hydrides of type EH3, where E = N, P, As, Sb,or Bi. The stability of hydrides decreases on moving down from NH3 toBiH3.
(ii) Reactivitytowards oxygen:
The elements of group 15form two types of oxides: E2O3 and E2O5,where E = N, P, As, Sb, or Bi. The oxide with the element in the higheroxidation state is more acidic than the other. However, the acidic characterdecreases on moving down a group.
(iii) Reactivitytowards halogens:
The group 15 elements react withhalogens to form two series of salts: EX3 and EX5.However, nitrogen does not form NX5 as it lacks the d-orbital.All trihalides (except NX3) are stable.
(iv) Reactivitytowards metals:
Thegroup 15 elements react with metals to form binary compounds in which metalsexhibit −3 oxidation states.