Inert pair effect of p-block elements is due to thea)the most unstable...
Due to the presence of inner lying d and f electrons oxidation state which is 2 unit less than the group oxidation state become popular.
View all questions of this test
Inert pair effect of p-block elements is due to thea)the most unstable...
Inert pair effect is mostly shown by the 15-17th group elements. That is, the oxidation state reduces by 2 for elements below ( , ), which is more stable than the other oxidation states. The reason for this is the inertness of the inner electrons due to poor shielding.
Inert pair effect of p-block elements is due to thea)the most unstable...
Inert Pair Effect in p-Block Elements
Inert Pair Effect is a phenomenon observed in p-block elements where the s-electrons are less available for bond formation as compared to the p-electrons. This effect becomes more prominent as we move down the group in the p-block elements.
Explanation of Option D
The option D states that the inert pair effect is due to the oxidation state two units less than the group oxidation state. This is because the p-block elements tend to exhibit a higher oxidation state equal to their group number, but as we move down the group, the tendency to exhibit a lower oxidation state becomes more predominant.
Impact of Inert Pair Effect
- As the size of the atom increases down the group, the s-electrons are more tightly held by the nucleus, making them less available for bond formation.
- This leads to the preferential involvement of the p-electrons in bonding, resulting in a lower oxidation state than expected based on the group number.
Example
Take the Group 14 elements as an example. Carbon in Group 14 typically shows a +4 oxidation state, but as we move down to lead (Pb), the tendency to exhibit a +2 oxidation state becomes more dominant due to the inert pair effect.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option D, as the inert pair effect in p-block elements is primarily due to the tendency to exhibit an oxidation state two units less than the group oxidation state as we move down the group.