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JEE Advanced 2016 Paper 1 · Chemistry · s-Block, p-Block Elements and Hydrogen · medium

(s) about p-block compounds.

One or more options correct

Choose the correct statement(s) about p-block compounds.
  1. A. H3PO3\mathrm{H_3PO_3} is dibasic whereas H3PO2\mathrm{H_3PO_2} is monobasic.
  2. B. XeF4\mathrm{XeF_4} has a tetrahedral shape with sp3sp^3 hybridisation of xenon.
  3. C. The boiling point of HCl\mathrm{HCl} is higher than that of HF\mathrm{HF} because of its larger molecular mass.
  4. D. BCl3\mathrm{BCl_3} is a stronger Lewis acid than BBr3\mathrm{BBr_3} because pπ−pπ\mathrm{p\pi-p\pi} back donation is more effective in BCl3\mathrm{BCl_3}.
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Answer: A

(A) Correct. Only the P−OH\mathrm{P-OH} hydrogens are ionisable: H3PO3\mathrm{H_3PO_3} has two P−OH\mathrm{P-OH} groups and one P−H\mathrm{P-H} (dibasic); H3PO2\mathrm{H_3PO_2} has one P−OH\mathrm{P-OH} and two P−H\mathrm{P-H} (monobasic). (B) Incorrect. XeF4\mathrm{XeF_4} has four bond pairs and two lone pairs on xenon (sp3d2sp^3d^2), giving an octahedral electron geometry and a square planar shape. (C) Incorrect. HF\mathrm{HF} boils at 293 K293\ \mathrm{K} against 188 K188\ \mathrm{K} for HCl\mathrm{HCl} because of extensive hydrogen bonding; molecular mass is not decisive here. (D) Incorrect. Back donation from the halogen lone pair into the empty 2p2p orbital of boron is better for the smaller, more compact 3p3p orbital of chlorine than for the diffuse 4p4p of bromine, so BCl3\mathrm{BCl_3} is the weaker acid of the two (the claim reverses the real order); the Lewis acidity order is BBr3>BCl3>BF3\mathrm{BBr_3}>\mathrm{BCl_3}>\mathrm{BF_3}.
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