Question

Explain why:

Hydride of sulphur is a gas while hydride of oxygen is a liquid.

Answer 1

This is because in H₂S there are weak Van der Waals forces of attraction, but in H₂O there are strong intermolecular H-bonds.

Answer 2

1. Hydride of oxygen (H₂O) is a liquid due to strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding between water molecules.
2. Hydride of sulphur (H₂S) is a gas because it has weak van der Waals forces and no hydrogen bonding.
3. Oxygen’s high electronegativity causes hydrogen bonding, raising water’s boiling point, making it a liquid.
4. Sulphur’s lower electronegativity prevents hydrogen bonding, so H₂S remains gaseous at room temperature.