CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Nitrogen and sulfur
Lightning provides enough energy to break the nitrogen–nitrogen bond in , allowing nitrogen to react with oxygen in the air. Yet is usually described as an unreactive gas. Explain, in terms of the bonding in the nitrogen molecule, why is so unreactive under normal conditions.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Explain means: Give the reasons or the mechanism: why or how something happens. Link each point to the next with because, so or which means. A list of facts with no links usually loses the reasoning marks.
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