Give reasons :

A. Ga3+ salts are better reducing agent while Tl3+ salts are better oxidising agent.

B. PbCl4 is less stable than PbCl2

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1 Answers

A. i. Both gallium (Ga) and thallium (Tl) belong to group 13.

ii. Ga is lighter element compared to thallium Tl. 

Therefore,

Its +3 oxidation state is stable. 

Thus, 

Ga+ loses two electrons and get oxidized to Ga3+

Hence, 

Ga+ salts are better reducing agent.

iii. Thallium is a heavy element. 

Therefore, due to the inert pair effect, 

Tl forms stable compounds in +1 oxidation state. 

Thus,

Tl3+ salts get easily reduced to Tl1+ by accepting two electrons. 

Hence,

Tl3+ salts are better oxidizing agent.

[Note : This question is modified so as to apply the appropriate textual concept.]

B. i. Pb has electronic configuration [Xe] 4f145d106s26p2.

ii. Due to poor shielding of 6s2 electrons by inner d and f electrons, it is difficult to remove 6s2 electrons (inert pair).

iii. Thus, due to inert pair effect, 

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

Hence, 

PbCl4 is less stable than PbCl2.

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