Question:
Why is H2O a liquid and H2S a gas?
Solution:
H2O has oxygen as the central atom. Oxygen has smaller size and higher electronegativity as compared to sulphur. Therefore, there is extensive hydrogen bonding in H2O, which is absent in H2S. Molecules of H2S are held together only by weak van der Waal’s forces of attraction.
Hence, H2O exists as a liquid while H2S as a gas.