Chemistry · Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The first ionization enthalpy of molecular nitrogen is greater than that of oxygen. Reason (R): Nitrogen has a stable half-filled \( 2p^3 \) electronic configuration which requires higher energy to remove an electron compared to oxygen's \( 2p^4 \) configuration. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A
   Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
2. B
   Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
3. C
   (A) is true but (R) is false.
4. D
   (A) is false but (R) is true.