Question

Why +2 oxidation state of lead is more stable than +4 oxidation state?

Answer 1

due to inert pair effect
because on going top to bottom in group the electrons of s orbital donot participate in bonding means two electron not participate in bonding so there is left only +2 oxidation state and not +4 O.S.
so +2 O.S. is more stable than +4 O.S.in lead(pb).

Answer 2

+2 oxidation state of lead is more stable than +4 oxidation state.

• The electronic configuration of lead is-
• $[Xe]4f^{14}5d^{10}6s^26p^2$
• Thus the electron can be removed from both 6s and 6p orbitals.
• But here the penetration power of 6s orbital is more than 6p orbital.
• Thus we can't remove electrons from the 6s orbital easily but can remove them from the 6p orbital.
• That's why +2 oxidation state of lead is more stable than +4 oxidation state.