explain why stability of +4 oxidation state of group -14 elements decrease along the group
Answers
This is due to inert pair effect
Due to poor sheilding by d and f subshells the stability of +4 oxidation state decrease.
Thank you
Please mark brainliest
Answer:
The stability of the +4 oxidation state of group -14 elements decreases along the group due to the inert pair effect.
Explanation:
The stability of the +4 state decreases on moving down the group while that of the +2 state increases. This is due to the inert pair effect. The elements of this group can show a +4 oxidation state only when their ns² electron pair gets excited to np orbitals. As the value of n increases, the ns² electron pair becomes increasingly more reluctant in getting excited and take part in bond formation. Thus, the +4 oxidation state decreases in going from C to Pb.
The compounds of C and Si formed in the +4 state are very stable. Ge and Sn also form compounds in the +4 state, but they are less stable. The +2 state is the only important oxidation state of Pb.